Pokhara Avengers ended their Nepal Premier League campaign with a record-breaking 55-run win over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the final league match of the season at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Sunday, 15 November. Kushal Bhurtel fell one run short of a century as Pokhara posted 224 for 3 — the highest total in NPL history — and then bowled Kathmandu out for 169.
Pokhara were already out of the playoff race before the game, but they signed off in style. Kathmandu had already secured a playoff place, and the defeat left them third in the standings with eight points from seven matches. They will face Chitwan Rhinos in the Eliminator.
Pokhara's innings — 224 for 3
Kathmandu won the toss and chose to bowl first, and for a while it looked like a good call. Opener Arjun Kumal fell for 5 in the third over, caught behind off Jahandad Khan with the score on 17. But that was the last wicket Kathmandu would take for more than 16 overs.
Kushal Bhurtel joined Yuvraj Samra at the crease and the pair took the game away from Kathmandu. Bhurtel made 99 off 51 balls, hitting eight fours and eight sixes, before he was caught behind off Karan KC in the 19th over — one run short of becoming the first Nepali batter to score a century in the NPL. His 99 is still the highest score by a Nepali batter in the competition, passing Rohit Paudel's 95 for Lumbini Lions in the inaugural season. His assault was so fierce that one of his hits smashed a window at the ground.
Samra made 89 off 55 balls, with eight fours and five sixes, before he was caught by Bhim Sharki off Karan KC in the final over. The pair added 186 runs for the second wicket — the highest partnership in NPL history, passing the unbeaten 176 shared by Andre Gous and Dinesh Kharel against Lumbini Lions in the inaugural season. Captain Chamika Karunaratne finished unbeaten on 19 off seven balls, and Dhananjaya Lakshan was unbeaten on 2, as Pokhara closed on 224 for 3. Kathmandu's powerplay had cost them 65 runs, and it never got better: Karan KC took 2 for 34, Jahandad Khan 1 for 47, and Rashid Khan went for 55 runs without a wicket.
Kathmandu's chase — 169 all out
Chasing 225 to win, Kathmandu reached 56 for 1 in the powerplay, but the chase unravelled from there. Opener Sahil Patel made 34 off 23 balls before he was stumped by Arjun Kumal off Dinesh Kharel, and William Bosisto added 26. Sahan Arachchige made just 1, and Kathmandu slipped to 86 for 4.
Jahandad Khan (24 off 12 balls) and Rashid Khan (31 off 20 balls) offered brief resistance, and the Gorkhas reached 130 for 5. But from there they lost their last five wickets for 39 runs. Sonu Devkota's 29 off 14 balls was the only other score of note, and the innings ended at 169 in 19.5 overs, with Samra taking the final wicket.
Dinesh Kharel led Pokhara's attack with four wickets for 18 runs, while Bipin Khatri took three for 28. Ramesh Mendis took one wicket and Sunny BK finished with one for none in 1.1 overs.
Five records in one innings
Pokhara's 224 for 3 rewrote the NPL record books five times over. It is the highest team total in the competition's history, passing Biratnagar Kings' 220 for 6 against Pokhara in the second season. The 186-run stand between Samra and Bhurtel is the highest partnership in NPL history, and Pokhara now hold all three of the highest partnerships in the competition — the pair had also put on 136 against Karnali Yaks earlier this season. Pokhara became the first team to score 200 or more three times in the NPL, after 201 against Karnali in the second season and 217 against the same opponents earlier this season. Bhurtel's 99 is the highest individual score by a Nepali batter in the tournament. And the innings produced the most runs from boundaries in NPL history — 162, from 15 sixes and 18 fours.
The table
The result confirmed the playoff line-up. Kathmandu finished third with eight points and will face fourth-placed Chitwan Rhinos in Wednesday's Eliminator. Defending champions Lumbini Lions, who topped the table with 11 points, will meet second-placed Sudurpaschim Royals (10 points) in Tuesday's Qualifier 1. Pokhara finished out of the playoffs, but they leave the tournament with the biggest total and the biggest partnership the NPL has ever seen.
What's next
The playoffs begin on Tuesday, 17 November, with Qualifier 1 between Lumbini Lions and Sudurpaschim Royals. Kathmandu Gorkhas then face Chitwan Rhinos in the Eliminator on Wednesday, 18 November, with the winner staying alive in the tournament.
FAQs
How did Pokhara Avengers beat Kathmandu Gorkhas?
Pokhara scored 224 for 3 in 20 overs and then bowled Kathmandu out for 169 in 19.5 overs, winning by 55 runs in NPL Match 28 at Kirtipur on Sunday, 15 November.
How many runs did Kushal Bhurtel score?
99 off 51 balls, with eight fours and eight sixes. It is the highest score by a Nepali batter in NPL history, and he fell one run short of becoming the first Nepali to score an NPL century.
What records did Pokhara set in the match?
Five: the highest team total in NPL history (224), the highest partnership (186), the first team to score 200 or more three times, the most runs from boundaries in an innings (162), and Bhurtel's 99 as the highest score by a Nepali batter.
Who do Kathmandu Gorkhas play next?
They finished third in the league stage and face fourth-placed Chitwan Rhinos in the Eliminator on Wednesday, 18 November.
What is the playoff schedule?
Qualifier 1 is on Tuesday, 17 November (Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals), and the Eliminator is on Wednesday, 18 November (Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Chitwan Rhinos).
Conclusion
Pokhara Avengers had nothing to play for except pride, and they played like it. Bhurtel's 99 and Samra's 89 produced the highest total and the highest partnership the NPL has ever seen, and a 55-run win to end a disappointing campaign on a high. For Kathmandu, the defeat changes nothing about their playoff place — third place and an Eliminator against Chitwan were already theirs — but they will want a sharper batting display when the knockouts begin. The league stage is done, and the playoffs start on Tuesday.
Also on CricVic: Hussain Talat's all-round show powers Karnali Yaks to a 24-run win over Chitwan Rhinos
Also on CricVic: Lumbini Lions beat Biratnagar Kings in Match 26 to finish top
Sources: Kathmandu Post — Kathmandu to face Chitwan in NPL Eliminator after loss to Pokhara, MakaluKhabar — Pokhara Avengers set five new NPL records in a single innings, Cricbuzz — Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Pokhara Avengers scorecard