Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Chitwan Rhinos opened its Nepal Premier League (NPL) campaign with a victory, defeating Kathmandu Gurkhas by five wickets at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Batting first, Kathmandu Gurkhas scored 111 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Chitwan Rhinos achieved the target in 17.1 overs despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Sumit Maharjan top-scored for Kathmandu with a 41-ball 29. Michael Lemitt scored 25, while Dan Douthwaite scored an unbeaten 19 off 18 balls, and Shankar Rana hit 16 facing 17 balls. Other Nepali batters failed to reach double digits.
Sohail Tanvir claimed five wickets for Chitwan giving just 21 overs in his four overs spell. Rijan Dhakal, Kushal Malla, Amar Routela and Luc Benkestein took a wicket each.
Despite chasing a small target, Chitwan lost its first wicket in the second over with 18 runs on board. Deepak Bohora was trapped leg before by Deepak Bohora. Hassan Eisakhil played some good shots but he fell for 12 runs off seven falls in the first ball of the fourth over. Santosh Karki scored a not-out 28 off 31 balls for the Rhinos, while Luc Benkenstein scored 12. Kushal Malla, Sharad Vesawkar and Ravi Bopara contributed 11 runs each.
Shahab Alam took three wickets for Kathmandu, while Gerhard Erasmus and Dan Douthwaite Claimed a wicket each.
Karnali Yaks takes on Janakur Bolts in the third match of NPL later on Monday.
