Changing captains did little to improve Karnali Yaks’ fortunes in the third season of the Nepal Premier League. With South African star batter David Miller replacing Sompal Kami as captain, Karnali managed only 105 runs against Lumbini Lions at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Thursday.
Karnali had made a strong start to the tournament, winning their first two matches. But three successive defeats had put their playoff prospects under pressure, prompting the team to hand the captaincy to Miller for the match against Lumbini.
Karnali won the toss and elected to bat, but lasted only 19.2 overs. Another defeat would leave their chances of reaching the playoffs hanging by a thread. Lumbini, too, needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Karnali made changes to their opening combination as well as the captaincy. Dipendra Rawat, playing his first match of the tournament, lasted just four balls before Abhishesh Gautam bowled him. The other opener, Ariful Islam, and Deepak Dumre were dismissed for four runs each. Gautam also removed Dumre, while Rohit Paudel took a fine catch off Kishor Mahato’s bowling to send Ariful back.
Miller came in at number four but was also undone by Lumbini’s sharp fielding. In his first over, Sher Malla induced an edge from the South African, and Ruben Trumpelmann took an excellent catch.
Sompal, batting at number six, was Karnali’s top scorer with 28 off 18 balls, including four fours and a six. D’Arcy Short dismissed him with another fine catch by Aasif Sheikh at long-on. Short then bowled Pawan Sarraf for 12.
Hussain Talat made 24 off 22 balls, hitting two fours and a six. Mark Watt scored two, Gulshan Jha 13 and Nandan Yadav three.
Abhishesh took two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs. Lumbini captain Rohit Paudel claimed two for 12 from three overs, while Short took two for 13 in four overs. Kishor Mahato also picked up two wickets, conceding just six runs in 2.2 overs. Trumpelmann took the other wicket.
Binod Pandey is a sports reporter for the Kantipur Publications.
