Kathmandu Gorkhas seal 3rd place with 53-run win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 29: Kathmandu Gorkhas registered a 53-run victory over Chitwan Rhinos on Friday to climb to third place in the Nepal Premier League 2025 standings.

After electing to bowl first at TU Cricket Ground, Chitwan dismissed Kathmandu for 142 runs in 19.4 overs. However, the Rhinos found the chase of a modest target a herculean task, collapsing to just 89 runs in 17.2 overs.

Dev Khanal (21 off 8 balls), Ravi Bopara (21 off 23) and Sohail Tanvir (18 off 17) were the only Chitwan batters to reach double figures. Rashid Khan was the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers, producing a miserly spell of three wickets for just three runs. Karan KC, Milind Kumar and Shahab Alam also claimed two wickets apiece.

Earlier, John Simpson led Kathmandu’s batting revival after the side had stumbled to 24/3 in 4.2 overs. Simpson smashed five sixes and three boundaries in a blistering 29-ball 60, sharing a 98-run stand with Milind Kumar for the fourth wicket. Kumar contributed 38 off 43 balls, including five boundaries, before being dismissed in the 16th over. Simpson followed in the first ball of the 17th, leaving Kathmandu at 122/5.

The remaining batters failed to build on the platform, losing five wickets cheaply while adding just 20 runs. Simpson was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings.

For Chitwan, Sohail Tanvir spearheaded the bowling attack with a four-wicket haul, while Ranjit Kumar and Kamal Airee picked up two wickets each.

With the win, Kathmandu moved to six points from three victories and two defeats. Chitwan sit fourth with two wins and two losses.

On Saturday, Lumbini Lions face Pokhara Avengers in the opening fixture, while Sudur Paschim will seek revenge against Janakpur Bolts in a repeat of the first edition’s final.

Karnali Yaks vs Biratnagar Kings

In the second match of the day, Biratnagar Kings notched up a three-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks to maintain its second position in NPL.  

Biratnagar chased the 161-run victory target scoring 163 runs losing seven wickets in 19.5 over.

Basir Ahmad  led the batting onslaught with a match winning knock of 62 runs from 43 balls. He fired three boundaries and three sixes in his unbeaten half century knock. 

Biratnagar, in reply, had a bad start losing two wicket for 17 in 3.4 over.

Sam Heazlett (16), Sahil Patel (19) and Narayan Joshi (25) were the other two-digit scorers in the win of Biratnagar. 

Sompal Kami and Gulshan Jha claimed two wickets each for Karnali.

After winning the toss, Karnali Yaks batted first to score 160 runs losing three wickets in 20 overs. Priyank Panchal smashed a half century knock of 63 off 47 balls that included two sixes and six fours. He put on 96-run for the second wicket with William Bosisto before being run out in the 16.3 overs. Bosisto remained not out with run-a-ball 48. Gulshan Jha (20) and Najibullah Zadran (not out 12) were other contributor for Karnali. 

Marchant de Lange and Sandeep Lamichhane picked one wicket each for Biratnagar.