Perfect Day for T20 Fans at Nepal Premier League

T20 cricket is all about close matches, last-over thrillers, and acrobatic catches — and on Wednesday the Nepal Premier League, fans got exactly the entertainment they craved. Both matches went down to the wire, marking the first last-over finishes in the tournament so far.

First Game: Karnali Yaks vs Kathmandu Gurkhas

Earlier in the day, former India international Shikhar Dhawan set the tone with a blistering 72 off 51 balls. His innings started cautiously, with just 33 runs off his first 35 balls by the 16th over. However, the Yaks unleashed an onslaught in the final four overs, hammering 51 runs to post a competitive total of 149/5.

With momentum on their side, Karnali struck early, reducing the Gurkhas to 41/4. Gerhard Erasmus steadied the ship with a crucial 38 off 28 balls, taking the Gurkhas to 98/5. However, Erasmus was given a lifeline when Sompal Kami dropped him on 25 off Zeeshan Maqsood’s bowling—a pivotal moment in the match.

Karnali appeared to be in control until Karan KC turned the game on its head. With the Gurkhas needing 50 runs from 25 balls, Karan smashed a blistering 28 off just 10 deliveries. Sumit Maharjan played second fiddle with a steady 40 off 37 balls, steering the Gurkhas to a thrilling victory.

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Second Game: Lumbini Lions vs Biratnagar Kings

The second match of the day was a high-scoring spectacle that etched itself into the tournament’s history. The Biratnagar Kings, reeling from two consecutive losses, faced an uphill battle after conceding 191/7 against the Lumbini Lions. Skipper Rohit Paudel led Lumbini’s charge with a fiery 46 off 29 balls, while Tom Moores chipped in with a quickfire 30 off 17. Despite the large total, the Kings were not out of contention.

To shake things up, the Kings promoted Ismat Alam to open the innings, but he departed for a duck. Martin Guptill, coming in at No.3, played a brisk knock of 28 off 17 balls, forming a 62-run partnership with Lokesh Bam. However, Durgesh Gupta broke the stand, triggering a mini-collapse that left the Kings struggling at 72/4.

Enter Basir Ahmad. Ahmad, in partnership with Lokesh Bam, crafted a match-defining 77-run stand. Ahmad was dropped by Sundeep Jora. The game swung back and forth as both teams vied for control. With 13 runs needed off the final five balls, Chris Sole stepped up. He smashed a second-ball six and followed it up with two boundaries to seal the game for the Kings. This chase, the second-highest in Nepal’s franchise cricket history and the highest in the Nepal Premier League was a testament to their resilience. Fair to say, Rohit Paudel missed the bowling service of experienced Ben Cutting, who was unfit to bowl today.

Lokesh Bam was named Player of the Match for his sublime 71 off 47 balls, which included three fours and six sixes.

Image Credit: Nepal Premier League (Official)

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