In the second match on Day 3 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), Pokhara Avengers faced Chitwan Rhinos in a clash of two national stars—Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla. However, the anticipated battle of skills turned into a one-sided game.
A Shocking Collapse
Chasing a target of 162 runs, Pokhara Avengers struggled from the start. By the end of the powerplay, they had lost 7 wickets and were at 17/7. The team eventually managed to reach 74 runs before being bowled out, losing the match by a massive 87 runs.
How Did 7/6 Happen?
Pokhara needed a solid start to chase 162. Their openers, Kushal Bhurtel, and Dinesh Kharel, faced Chitwan’s in-form bowler Sohail Tanvir. Bhurtel, the captain, was caught on the very first ball of the innings. Dinesh and Dilip Nath tried to stabilize the innings, but Nath was out on the second ball after hitting a boundary. Following him, Bas de Leede also fell on his first ball. Within the first over, Pokhara was reeling at 4/3.
The situation worsened as Dinesh Kharel and Kiran Thagunna couldn’t hold the fort. Rijan Dhakal bowled a maiden in the second over, while Tanvir gave away just two runs in the third. In the fourth over, Dhakal dismissed Kharel and Thagunna, reducing Pokhara to 6/4. By the end of the over, Michael Leask was also out, leaving the team at 7/6.
The Recovery Attempt
Raymon Reifer and Matt Critchley added 10 more runs, but Reifer fell in the seventh over to Luke Benkenstein, taking the score to 17/7. Narayan Joshi and Critchley tried to avoid complete embarrassment, hitting some big shots and preventing the team from being bowled out for under 50. However, the damage was done, and Pokhara lost badly.
Coaches and Players Reflect
Pokhara coach Rajiv Kumar admitted it was a shameful collapse and said the team was under pressure after losing their captain on the first ball. “It wasn’t our day. We’ll aim to perform better in upcoming matches,” he said.
Sohail Tanvir’s left-arm bowling magic, coupled with Rijan Dhakal’s inspired spell, destroyed Pokhara’s batting lineup. Tanvir took 3 wickets in his first over, while Dhakal also claimed 3 wickets in his second over. Together, they dismantled Pokhara’s top and middle order, leaving the team clueless about their pace and swing.
Chitwan’s Bowling Domination
Tanvir, a 39-year-old veteran, continued his brilliant form after taking 5 wickets in the previous match. His partner Rijan credited Tanvir for boosting his confidence, stating, “Seeing Tanvir’s first overfired me up.” Rijan’s 3-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award.
Luc Benkenstein contributed with 3 wickets, trapping Pokhara’s lower-order batters with his leg spin.
Pokhara’s Next Challenge
With a disappointing start to the tournament, Pokhara will face Janakpur Bolts in their second match on Thursday. Meanwhile, Chitwan will play Karnali Yaks on Friday.