Pokhara Avengers beat Kathmandu Gorkhas by 55 runs on Sunday, posting a tournament-record total before bowling out their opponents for 169.
Chasing 225, Kathmandu reached 56 runs in the powerplay for the loss of one wicket. But the innings soon unravelled. Sahil Patel made 34 off 23 balls and William Bosisto added 26. Patel fell at the team’s score of 72 runs, Bosisto at 79, and Sahan Arachchige followed for one as Kathmandu slipped to 86 for four.
Jahandad Khan and Rashid Khan offered brief resistance. Jahandad scored 24 off 12 balls and Rashid made 31 from 20, but both fell as wickets continued to tumble. The Gorkhas slumped from 130 for five to 139 for eight. Sonu Devkota’s 29 off 14 balls was the other notable contribution, and the innings ended at 169 in 19.5 overs.
Dinesh Kharel led Pokhara’s attack with four wickets for 18 runs, while Bipin Khatri took three for 28.
The result confirmed the playoff line-up. Kathmandu finished third with eight points and will face fourth-placed Chitwan Rhinos in Wednesday’s Eliminator. Chitwan remained on seven points after losing to Karnali Yaks earlier on Sunday. Defending champions Lumbini Lions, who topped the table with 11 points, will meet second-placed Sudurpaschim Royals (10 points) in Tuesday’s Qualifier 1.
Earlier, Pokhara posted 224 for three, the highest team total in NPL history. The previous record was Biratnagar Kings’ 220 for six against Pokhara in the second season.
Kushal Bhurtel fell one run short of becoming the first Nepali to score an NPL century, making 99 off 51 balls with eight fours and eight sixes. His score is the highest by a Nepali batter in the competition, surpassing Rohit Paudel’s 95 for Lumbini Lions in the inaugural season. Bhurtel and opener Yuvraaj Samra added 186 for the second wicket. Samra made 89 from 55 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes. Both fell in the 19th over, before captain Chamika Karunaratne’s unbeaten 19 off seven deliveries helped Pokhara reach 224.
