The Chitwan Rhinos defeated the Kathmandu Gurkhas in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), successfully chasing down the target of 112 runs in 17.1 overs with five wickets in hand.
Despite losing half of the team at the score of 68 in 8.5 overs, Santosh Karki 28(31) and Sharad Vesawkar 11(21) guided Rhinos to start their NPL campaign with a win.
Batting first after losing the toss, Gurkhas struggled to form a substantial partnership. Only four of Gurkhas’ batters – Sumit Maharjan, Michael Levitt, Dan Douthwaite and Shankar Rana – scored in double digits, with Maharjan making 29 off 41 and Levitt 25 off 16 with four fours and a six.
Sohail Tanvir, who led the Rhinos’ disciplined bowling pack, got the fifer – the first in the tournament, for which the Pakistani legend was declared the player of the match.
Janakpur Bolts, who defeated Biratnagar Kings in the inaugural match of the tournament, are playing against Kanali Yaks in the second match of the day, scheduled to begin at 1:15 PM local time.
