NPL: Pokhara registers its first win

Kathmandu, Dec 6: Pokhara Avengers have clinched first victory in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 cricket tournament.

Pokhara Avengers defeated Lumbini Lions by 10 wickets in the second match today played at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Chasing a 171-run victory target set by Lumbini, Pokhara achieved the target in 16.5 overs without losing any wicket. Both the opener batters performed their best for Pokhara’s victory. Opener Andries Gous hit 104 runs not out, including five sixes and 12 fours in 55 balls. Gous has become the first player in the NPL to score the highest runs and a century. Another opener Dinesh Kharel made 61 runs not out. He hit four sixes and four boundaries in 46 balls.

Pokhara Avengers secured 11 extra runs in this match. This is Pokhara’s first win in the NPL. In its first game, Pokhara lost to Chitwan Rhinos by 87 runs. Similarly, it was trounced by Janakpur Bolts by seven wickets in the second game. Before this, Lumbini, which decided to bat first after winning the toss, scored 170 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of five wickets.

Captain Rohit Poudel made the highest 95 runs not out with the help of four sixes and 10 fours in 59 balls. Tom Moores hit 45 runs, Sundeep Jora 18 runs and Bibek Yadav two runs for Lumbini while Aashutosh Ghiraiya and Unmukta Chand were out without scoring a single run.

Lumbini got 10 extra runs in this game. For Pokhara, Bipin Khatri took two wickets and Matt Critchley one wicket. This is Lumbini’s second defeat in the NPL. It suffered a two-wicket defeat at the hands of Biratnagar Kings before this.