Bopara’s Half-Century Helps Rhinos Down Yaks in NPL

Chitwan Rhinos made a winning start to the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), defeating Karnali Yaks by four wickets on Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Chasing a target of 167 runs, Chitwan Rhinos scored 171 runs for the loss of six wickets in 19.1 overs. 

Ravi Bopara scored a half-century, making 51 runs off 35 balls with three fours and three sixes. Opener Deepak Bohara added 42 runs. Saif Zaib played an aggressive innings of 38 runs off 16 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes.

For Karnali Yaks, captain Sompal Kami took two wickets. Mark Watt, Unish Singh and Yuvraj Khatri claimed one wicket each.

This is Chitwan Rhinos’ first victory over Karnali Yaks in the NPL. In the first edition, Karnali had won both matches against Chitwan.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat first, Karnali Yaks posted 166 runs for the loss of three wickets. Opener Priyank Panchal top-scored with 90 runs off 48 balls, hitting seven fours and six sixes. He shared a 61-run opening partnership with Max O’Dowd, who scored 20 runs off 30 balls with one boundary. Mark Watt contributed 16 runs off 21 balls.

In the final overs, Pawan Sarraf added 27 runs off 16 balls with three sixes and a four, helping Karnali reach a competitive total. Najibullah Zadran remained not out on four runs off five balls.

For the Rhinos, Saif Zaib, Ravi Bopara and Sohail Tanvir took one wicket each. Tanvir conceded two consecutive sixes to Sarraf in the second-last over.