Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Chitwan Rhinos defeated Karnali Yaks by five wickets in the second match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday.
Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Karnali posted 166 runs for the loss of three wickets. Chitwan chased down the 167-run target with four wickets in hand and five balls to spare.
Karnali made a strong start with the bat as openers Priyank Panchal and Max O’Dowd put on 61 for the first wicket. However, the innings lost momentum after O’Dowd (20) and Mark Watt (16) departed in quick succession. Panchal top-scored with a brisk 90 off 48 balls, while Pawan Sarraf’s 27 off 16 helped push the total past 160.
Sohail Tanvir, Saif Zaib and Ravi Bopara took one wicket each for Chitwan.
Chitwan lost opener Dawid Malan (6) and No. 3 batter Dev Khanal (2) early, but Deepak Bohora and Ravi Bopara steadied the chase. Bohora scored 42 off 36 balls, while Bopara anchored the innings with a 36-ball 52. Saif Zaib then played an explosive innings of 38 off 16 balls, before Arjun Saud (8*) sealed the victory with a towering six.
Sompal Kami claimed two wickets for Karnali, while Unish Singh, Mark Watt and Yuvraj Khatri picked up one each.
Chitwan, which had lost to Karnali twice in the first season – first in the league stage and then in the Eliminator, earned their first-ever win against the Yaks.
