Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Chitwan Rhinos earned its second straight win in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), defeating Pokhara Avengers by 87 runs at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Batting first, Chitwan scored 161 runs, helped by Ravi Bopara’s half-century. They then bundled out Pokhara for a paltry 74 runs in 13.2 overs.
Chitwan made a slow start with the bat, losing opener Deepak Bohora for two runs in the first over. Hassan Eisakhil followed him in the 5th over, scoring 14 off 10 balls. Luc Benkenstein also fell in the sixth over with the score at 46 in 5.2 overs. Captain Kushal Malla and Ravi Bopara resurrected Chitwan’s innings. Malla scored 38 off 23 balls, while Bopara scored a 38-ball 51. Santosh Karki and Sharad Vesawkar added 11 each, while Amar Routela remained not out on 13.
Bipin Khatri, Bas de Leede, and Raymon Reifer took two wickets each for Pokhara, while Sagar Dhakal claimed one wicket.
Pokhara made a poor start with the bat, losing Captain Kushal Bhurtel for a golden duck. Dilip Nath and Bas de Leede were also out in the first over, bowled by Sohail Tanvir. Chitwan claimed three more wickets in the fourth over, bowled by Rijan Dhakal, who trapped Dinesh Kharel, Kiran Thagunna, and Bas de Leede leg-before.
Lower-order batters Narayan Joshi and Marcus Critchley saved Pokhara’s blushes, scoring 30 and 17 runs, respectively, but it was not sufficient. Other Pokhara batters failed to reach double digits.
Sohail Tanvir, Rijan Dhakal, and Luc Benkenstein took three wickets each for Chitwan, while Deepak Bohora claimed one.
Kathmandu Gurkhas will meet Karnali Yaks in the first match of the NPL on Wednesday, while Lumbini Lions take on Biratnagar Kings in the second match.
