Reifer shoulders Pokhara Avengers to win over Biratnagar Kings in Super Over

Kathmandu, Dec. 13: Match Day 11 of the Nepal Premier League marked the first game that went to a Super Over at TU International Cricket Ground. It was Pokhara Avengers who emerged victorious over Biratnagar Kings in the one-over eliminator.

Moreover, it was Raymon Reifer, the all-rounder from the Caribbean, who single-handedly took Pokhara to the win in the Super Over. 

Biratnagar had given a target of 140 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat first. Pokhara began the chase with a positive; they were at 80 runs in 10.3 overs after losing the two openers – Dinesh Kharel (11 off 11) and Andries Gous (39 off 27). Kushal Bhurtel scored his highest score of the tournament: 31 off 34.

However, from requiring 59 of 57 deliveries with eight wickets remaining, Pokhara could only tie the game in the second inning. By the time of the last over, Pokhara required 14 runs in six balls with three wickets remaining. 

Reifer hit the third ball of the final over by Basir Ahamad for a six reducing the required run to 7 off 3. Ahamad bowled a dot and then Reifer denied a single in the fifth delivery.

And when Pokhara required 7 off 1, Reifer smashed the final ball for a six to tie the game and take it to the Super Over. Reifer stood not out at 34 off 23 (3 fours, 2 sixes).  

Pratish GC bagged four wickets while Chris Sole took two for Biratnagar in the first inning.

Regarding Biratnagar’s first inning, debutant Scott Edwards, the wicketkeeper-batsman from the Netherlands, was the most effective one with a contribution of 45 off 35. He was followed by Lokesh Bam (26 off 16), Ahamad (21 off 20) and Nicholas Kirton (19 off 16).

Reifer and Sagar Dhakal bagged two wickets each in the first inning while Bhurtel and Kharel took one each.

Reifer-owned Super Over 

Reifer not only prevented a loss for Pokhara and extended a chance for a win in the Super Over, but he shouldered the team to the finishing line.

Reifer joined Gous to open the Super Over with Reifer facing the bowler first. And Biratnagar had decided to leave the over to their marquee and captain Sandeep Lamichhane. 

Meanwhile, Lamichhane, who has been trying to regain form in the NPL, was smashed for two consecutive sixes by Reifer in the first two deliveries. A dot in the third ball was shadowed by a four in the fourth ball.

Lamichhane prevented boundaries in the last two deliveries allowing only two singles with which Pokhara posted the target of 19 runs in six balls.

The experienced Martin Guptill opened batting for Biratnagar with Kirton, but the duo could not hit a single boundary and were limited to five runs losing the Super Over by 13 runs. Furthermore, it was Reifer who bowled in the Super Over for Pokhara.

Reifer was adjudged the Player of the Match for his memorable innings with both bat and ball. Pokhara now has four points from five games. If Chitwan Rhinos and Karnali Yaks fail to win their remaining two games and Pokhara wins their remaining two, the latter could enter the playoffs.

The Kings are almost out of the tournament after Thursday’s loss. They are facing Chitwan and Kathmandu on December 13 and 15 respectively with little hope for the next stage. Chitwan is likely to have UAE’s Basil Hameed in the Playing XI against Biratnagar as he arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday as the team’s latest foreign signing. 

Bolts into playoffs

Of the eight teams in the NPL, Janakpur Bolts became the first to secure a seat in the playoffs after defeating Kathmandu Gurkhas on Thursday.

Janakpur’s victory over Kathmandu was their fifth in six games. They now stand at the top of the table with 10 points. They have guaranteed progress to the playoffs but their position in the points table will be finalised only after the league stage concludes on December 16.

Kathmandu’s skipper Karan KC had decided to bat first against Janakpur believing to put up a defending total. However, they were bundled for 101 runs with three balls remaining in the first inning.

There were only three players who scored in double figures for Kathmandu – Gerhard Erasmus (20 off 22), KC (19 off 13) and Stephen Eskinazi (17 off 19).

Spinner-duo Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Sher Malla bagged three wickets each, Mohammad Mohsin took two, and Kishore Mahato and Araniko Yadav claimed one each for Janakpur. Rajbanshi is now the highest wicket-taker in NPL with 11 in six games. 

Kathmandu was expecting another win after sending the two openers of Janakpur by the fifth over. Lahiru Milantha (16 off 20) and Aasif Sheikh (2 off 9) fell victim to KC in the third and final balls of the 5th over.

Skipper Anil Kumar Sah )11 off 10) and Shubh Kansakar (5 off 7) could not contribute enough before departing in the 9th and 10th overs respectively. But James Neesham turned the tides with a cameo of 27 off 17 and left the team at 77/5 in 13.3 overs.

Harsh Thaker and Mohsin were the ones who took Janakpur across the winning line as they stayed not out at 25 off 25 and 13 off 7. Mohsin hit three consecutive fours to Dan Douthwaite in the 16th over to chase the target with 25 balls remaining.

Except for KC’s two, Dipesh Kandel, Sahab Alam and Erasmus bagged one wicket each for the Gurkhas.

Karnali Yaks will have the chance to cement their place in the Top 4 by defeating Lumbini Lions on Friday. Lumbini, with five losses in six games, will play their final league game against Karnali.