The Kathmandu Gurkhas recorded their first victory in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 on Wednesday, defeating the Karnali Yaks by three wickets at the Tribhuvan Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Despite a stunning knock from Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, who top-scored with 72 runs off 51 balls, Karnali fell short of defending their total of 149 runs in 20 overs.
Shikhar Dhawan’s Brilliance Not Enough for Karnali Yaks
Karnali’s total of 149 was built primarily around Dhawan’s explosive innings, which included four boundaries and five sixes. His batting performance was the highlight of the Yaks’ innings, especially during the 18th and 19th overs. Dhawan smashed a flurry of boundaries off Karan KC’s bowling in the 18th over and followed it up with two consecutive sixes off Nathan Souter in the 19th over.
However, despite Dhawan’s brilliance, Karnali’s middle and lower-order batsmen failed to capitalize on his momentum. Chadwick Walton contributed a quick 21 runs off 15 balls, while Gulshan Jha managed only 12 runs off 19 balls. With no other batsman able to build a substantial partnership, Karnali finished their innings at a modest total, leaving them vulnerable in the second half.
Kathmandu Gurkhas Chase Down the Target with Grit
In response, the Kathmandu Gurkhas, led by captain Karan KC, showed determination and composure to chase down the target. Despite an early setback in their opening match against the Chitwan Rhinos, which they lost by five wickets, Kathmandu bounced back with a controlled chase to secure their first win of the tournament.
Kathmandu’s chase was led by Gerhard Erasmus, who played a key role in the bowling department. Erasmus finished with 2 wickets for 29 runs from his four overs, while Karan KC and his teammates provided key breakthroughs to keep Karnali under control. The bowlers executed their plans well, restricting Karnali to just 149 runs, which proved to be an achievable target.
Kathmandu’s Much-Needed Boost
This victory was a much-needed boost for Kathmandu, who had suffered an opening match defeat against the Chitwan Rhinos. With the win, they have gained some momentum and are now climbing the standings in the tournament. For the Karnali Yaks, this marks their second consecutive loss, as they had already been defeated by the Janakpur Bolts by eight wickets in their first match. The Yaks will be under pressure to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
Looking Ahead
The Kathmandu Gurkhas’ win shows their resilience and will give them confidence going into their next matches in the NPL 2024. With Karan KC at the helm and contributions from players like Gerhard Erasmus, the Gurkhas look set to challenge the other top teams.
On the other hand, the Karnali Yaks will need to regroup and address their weaknesses, especially with the bat, to turn their fortunes around in the coming matches. The pressure is on for Karnali as they seek to recover from their early setbacks.
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