Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Pokhara Avengers strengthened their playoff hopes with a 34-run win over Karnali Yaks in the Nepal Premier League on Tuesday.
The loss, however, ended Karnali’s playoff hopes.
Batting first at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Pokhara scored 201 runs for the loss of two wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Although Karnali were cruising comfortably in the first half of the chase, a lower-order batting collapse meant they folded for 167 in the 19th over.
This is only the second 200-plus score in the NPL so far. Earlier, Biratnagar scored 221 against Pokhara Avengers.
Although Pokhara lost their captain, Kushal Bhurtel, for just 18 runs, Adam Rossington scored a superb century to take Pokhara past 200 runs. The English batter scored 108 not out off just 58 balls, becoming the second centurion in the NPL this year after Karnali’s Mark Watt, who scored 114 against Kathmandu Gorkhas. Rossington found support from Jason Roy, who scored 46 off 34 balls, and Dhananjaya Lakshan, who struck an 11-ball 23.
Nandan Yadav and Mark Watt took a wicket each for Karnali.
Chasing 202, Karnali lost openers Priyank Panchal (16) and Jakishan Kolsawala (6) cheaply. However, Mark Watt scored an aggressive 59 off 34 balls to keep his side in the hunt. But Karnali lost their last four wickets in the space of 10 balls as the high required run rate put pressure on the batters.
Dhananjaya Lakshan and Rishi Dhawan, both playing their first NPL match after their outings in the Abu Dhabi T10, picked up three wickets each. Kiran Thagunna, Sandeep Chhetri and Kushal Bhurtel had a wicket each to their names.
With the win, Pokhara climbed to fourth in the table with two wins and three losses from five matches, while Karnali are seventh with two points from six matches. They are ahead only of Janakpur, who have played one game fewer.
