Kathmandu Gorkhas secured their second consecutive victory in the Nepal Premier League on Thursday, thrashing Biratnagar Kings by nine wickets after bowling them out for a paltry 83.
Asked to bat first at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Biratnagar were dismissed for 83 in 18.3 overs. Kathmandu chased down the target with ease, reaching 86 for one in just 9.4 overs.
The win lifted Kathmandu from seventh to second in the standings, while Biratnagar slipped from second to fifth.
Kathmandu got off to a flying start, scoring 14 runs in the opening over. Sahil Patel struck boundaries off the first two deliveries he faced, while David Warner also opened his account with a four off his first ball. But Patel's stay ended in the third over when he was bowled by Aparajit Poudel for 10.
Warner and Will Bosisto then put on an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the second wicket to seal a comfortable win. Warner finished unbeaten on 44 off 24 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. He hit two consecutive sixes off Imran Sheikh to bring up the winning runs. Bosisto remained not out on 23 from 24 deliveries, with three fours.
Earlier, Biratnagar were in deep trouble at 35 for seven, facing the prospect of registering the lowest total in NPL history. In the inaugural season, Janakpur Bolts had been bowled out for 51 against Sudurpaschim Royals.
But Angelo Mathews and Rupesh Singh added 39 runs for the eighth wicket to help Biratnagar avoid that unwanted record. Mathews was bowled by Santosh Yadav for 22 off 31 balls, hitting one four. Singh top-scored with 26 from as many deliveries, including three fours and a six, before he was trapped leg-before by Yadav.
Biratnagar's innings had begun poorly. Opener Shehan Jayasuriya was dismissed for five by Jahandad Khan, while Lokesh Bam fell for six. Imran Sheikh returned to the pavilion without scoring.
Playing his first match of the tournament, Sri Lankan all-rounder Sahan Arachchige struck twice in consecutive deliveries, removing Basir Ahmad for 10 and Narayan Joshi for a duck.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Dev Shah then dismissed star all-rounder Andre Russell for just three, leaving Biratnagar reeling. Mathews and Rupesh briefly resisted Kathmandu's attack before Khan dismissed the final batter, Aparajit Poudel, for two.
Yadav was Kathmandu's most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 11 runs in three overs. Arachchige claimed two for seven in two overs, while Khan took two for 14 in 3.4 overs. Shahab Alam conceded just 13 runs in his four overs and picked up a wicket. Captain Karan KC and Dev Shah also took one wicket each.
Binod Pandey is a sports reporter for the Kantipur Publications.
