NPL: Kathmandu Gurkhas win by 1 wicket in nail-biting finish

Kirtipur, December 15 — Kathmandu Gurkhas narrowly defeated Biratnagar Kings by 1 wicket, successfully chasing down a target of 118 with 11 balls remaining in a tense Nepal Premier League encounter at Kirtipur today.

Biratnagar Kings, batting first, were restricted to a modest 117/9 in their 20 overs.

Early breakthroughs from Kathmandu's bowlers put pressure on the Kings, with the top-order crumbling under tight bowling. Lokesh Bam (8), Dipak Bohara (20), and Nicholas Kirton (12) were dismissed cheaply, while Rajesh Pulami top-scored with a quickfire 25.

Biratnagar’s innings struggled further with run-outs, including key dismissals like Subash Bhandari, who was run out in the middle overs.

Kathmandu's bowlers, led by Dipesh Kandel (2/16) and Gerhard Erasmus (3/17), were outstanding, with Kandel and Erasmus picking up crucial wickets at key moments.

In response, Kathmandu's chase was shaky from the start, as they lost early wickets in their pursuit of 118.

Stephen Eskinazi (1), Michael Levitt (10), and Gerhard Erasmus (12) fell early, and the Gurkhas were reduced to 24/4 by the 4th over. However, Pratik Shrestha (39) played a crucial role, anchoring the innings with a steady knock, supported by Rashid Khan (14) and Shankar Rana (16*).

Kathmandu’s middle order collapsed under pressure, with wickets tumbling regularly. The team was reduced to 90/9, leaving them needing 28 runs with just one wicket remaining.

However, Kandel (11*) remained calm under pressure, and alongside Rana (16*), they guided Kathmandu to victory, reaching 120/9 in 18.1 overs.