Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Karnali Yaks registered their first win in the Nepal Premier League, defeating Chitwan Rhinos by six wickets at the TU International Cricket Ground on Friday.
Batting first, Chitwan scored 130 runs for the loss of seven wickets. In reply, Karnali Yaks reached 132 runs with one ball remaining.
Chitwan made a slow start with the bat as both of its openers were back in the dugout by the fourth over, with just 19 runs on the board. Luc Benkenstein was dismissed for a duck, while Deepak Bohora scored a run-a-ball eight. Bipin Rawal also fell, scoring 11 runs. Ravi Bopara and captain Kushal Malla revived Chitwan’s innings. Bopara notched his second half-century, scoring an unbeaten 59 off 40 balls, while Malla contributed 23 runs from 27 balls. Other Chitwan batters failed to reach double digits.
Bipin Sharma took three wickets for Karnali, while Zeeshan Maqsood claimed two. Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav picked up one wicket each.
Chasing 130 runs to secure its first points in the NPL, Karnali Yaks added 53 runs for the first wicket. Shikhar Dhawan scored 45 from 41 balls, while Dev Khanal contributed 25 runs off 34 balls. Chadwick Walton scored 30 from 19 balls, while Zeeshan Maqsood remained unbeaten on 12 from 15 balls. Arjun Gharti chipped in with 11 runs.
Kushal Malla, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, and Ravi Bopara took one wicket each for Chitwan.
