Karnali Yaks ended their Nepal Premier League campaign with a 24-run win over playoff-bound Chitwan Rhinos in Match 27 at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Sunday, 15 November — and Hussain Talat did it almost on his own. The Pakistan all-rounder carried Karnali's innings with an unbeaten 51 and then took 3 for 17 to break the back of Chitwan's chase.

Karnali, who had already been knocked out of the playoff race, finished the league stage with a win in their final match. Chitwan had already secured a playoff place before the game, and the defeat left them fourth in the standings with seven points from seven matches. They will play the Eliminator.

Karnali's innings — 153 for 8

Karnali won the toss and chose to bat first, and Talat was the innings. He remained unbeaten on 51 off 33 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes, after Karnali had lost their opener without scoring in his first match of the season. Opener Ariful Islam gave the innings its early pace with an aggressive 35 off just 15 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, and Gulsan Jha struck 18 off six balls late in the innings with a four and two sixes. Pawan Sarraf added 15 off 21 balls, including two sixes.

The rest of the batting fell cheaply. Deepak Dumre made 7, captain David Miller 5, Sompal Kami 4 and Mark Watt 6, while Nandan Yadav was unbeaten on 2. For Chitwan, Kamal Singh Airee, Salahuddin Khan and Usama Mir took two wickets each, while Rijan Dhakal and Sikandar Raza took one each. Karnali finished on 153 for 8 from their 20 overs — a total that looked competitive rather than commanding.

Chitwan's chase — 129 all out

Chasing 154 to win, Chitwan were bowled out for 129 in 19.1 overs. Usama Mir, who made his NPL debut in this match, top-scored with an unbeaten 28 off 23 balls, including two fours and a six. Opener Kamil Mishara made 25 off 17 balls with two fours and a six, and Dev Khanal added 14 off 13 balls with three fours. Mishara and Khanal put on 35 runs for the first wicket, but no big partnership followed.

Captain Sikandar Raza (2), Bibek Yadav (6) and Dan Mousley (8) all fell cheaply, and Chitwan slipped to 64 for 5. Kushal Malla and Salahuddin Khan tried to rebuild, but both were out after a 20-run stand — Malla made 18 off 15 balls and Khan 7. Ashok Dhami, who played his first game of the season, scored 11, while Kamal Singh Airee and Rijan Dhakal were out for one run each.

Talat completed his all-round performance with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 17 runs in 3.1 overs — removing Mousley, Salahuddin Khan and Airee. Mark Watt and Pawan Sarraf took two wickets each, and Sompal Kami took one.

Talat's day

This was Talat's match from start to finish. He walked in with Karnali in trouble, carried the innings to a defendable total, and then took the wickets that decided the chase. His unbeaten half-century and three-wicket spell earned him the Player of the Match award — a fitting end to a Karnali campaign that started with two wins, then ran into four straight defeats, and finished with a consolation victory.

The table

The result fixed Chitwan in fourth place before the final league match of the evening. They finish the league stage with seven points from seven matches and will play the Eliminator. Karnali completed their league programme with six points from seven matches — three wins and four defeats — and finish sixth, out of the playoffs.

The league stage concludes with the evening match between Pokhara Avengers and Kathmandu Gorkhas, played under lights. Kathmandu have already qualified for the playoffs, while Pokhara are out of the competition. Once that match is done, the final playoff line-up will be confirmed.

What's next

For Chitwan, the Eliminator is the next stop — a knockout game they must win to stay alive. For Karnali, the season is over, but Talat's performance is a reminder of what the side can do when their overseas all-rounder fires. The playoffs begin with Qualifier 1 on 17 November, when table-toppers Lumbini Lions face the second-placed team.

FAQs

How did Karnali Yaks beat Chitwan Rhinos?

Karnali scored 153 for 8 in 20 overs and then bowled Chitwan out for 129 in 19.1 overs, winning by 24 runs in NPL Match 27 at Kirtipur on Sunday, 15 November.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Hussain Talat, for his unbeaten 51 off 33 balls and 3 for 17 in 3.1 overs.

Where do Chitwan finish in the league stage?

Fourth, with seven points from seven matches. They had already secured a playoff place before the game and will play the Eliminator.

Where do Karnali finish?

Sixth, with six points from seven matches. They won their first two games and then lost four in a row, so this win was only a consolation.

What happens next in the NPL?

The final league match, Pokhara Avengers vs Kathmandu Gorkhas, is played under lights on Sunday evening. The playoffs then begin with Qualifier 1 on 17 November, when Lumbini Lions face the second-placed team.

Conclusion

Karnali Yaks signed off with a win that meant little for the table and plenty for pride. Hussain Talat's 51 not out and 3 for 17 was the finest all-round performance of their season, and it was enough to beat a Chitwan side that had already booked its playoff place. Chitwan will not mind the defeat much — fourth place and an Eliminator spot were already theirs — but they will want a sharper batting display when the knockouts begin. For Karnali, the season ends in sixth, with a win to remember it by.

Also on CricVic: Lumbini Lions beat Biratnagar Kings in Match 26 to finish top

Also on CricVic: Chitwan Rhinos beat Janakpur Bolts in Match 25

Sources: Kathmandu Post — Karnali sign off with consolation win as Chitwan finish fourth, OnlineKhabar — Hussain Talat's all-round show helps Karnali beat Chitwan by 24 runs