Karnali Yaks have unfortunately made history by becoming the very first team to get eliminated from the second version of the Nepal Premier League after being beaten by Pokhara Avengers by 34 runs on Tuesday. This defeat finished their tournament participation one match early and was indicative of their poor performance throughout the entire competition.
Karnali’s downfall was very early and only earned them two points after the six games played, which indicated their struggles in the league. Whereas, Pokhara Avengers, with the win have rejuvenated their position by increasing their points to four from five matches. The defeat has put an end to the chances of Karnali getting into the playoffs in this season’s NPL much earlier than expected.
Karnali Yaks exit NPL as Pokhara Avengers secure second win
At Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Pokhara Avengers lost the toss and were given the opportunity to bat first, where they scored a commanding 201 runs for the loss of only two wickets in their full 20 overs. This total became the second-highest team score of the present season, thus underscoring the batting power of Pokhara on that day.
Adam Rossington was the kingpin of the Pokhara innings, hitting the top score of 108 runs not out and thereby supporting the team’s total. The other batsmen were composed of Jason Roy with 46 runs, while Dhananjaya Lakshan stayed not out on 23 and captain Kushal Bhurtel contributed 18 runs. The Karnali bowlers had only a little success, with Nandan Yadav and Mark Watt picking up one wicket apiece.
With 202 runs to win, Karnali fell short of the target by a huge margin and were dismissed for 167 runs in 19 overs. Mark Watt was the top scorer for Karnali with 59 runs, but his brave fight turned out to be of no use as his team could not even reach the target.
The bowlers of Pokhara were in absolute control during the match, with Rishi Dhawan being the most successful and taking three wickets. The victory not only consolidated Pokhara’s position but also sealed Karnali’s fate as they were knocked out of the tournament. Pokhara’s total was the second-highest of the season, next to the incredible 220 runs scored by Biratnagar Kings, which is also the highest total in the history of NPL.
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