NPL, Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Lumbini Lions Match Report: Karan kc 11 Ball Blitz Turns Game for Kathmandu Gorkhas

11th match of  Nepal Premier League (NPL) Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Lumbini Lions at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium, Kritipur, Kathmandu Gorkhas Edge 21 runs victory over Lumbini Lions, Skipper Karan kc late fireworks 34 runs off 11 balls which make difference in game, Gorkhas strong comeback after two defeat while second consecutive defeat for Lumbini Lions and struggle continues in tournament.

Lumbini Lions captain Rohit Paudel won the toss and chose to field first, Kathmandu Gorkhas Innings began with shaky notes when Ben Charlesworth goes without scoring and dismissed by sher Malla , while Rashid Khan managed 14 runs.

Opener Akash Tripathi played anchor the innings with the patients rotating the strike and punishing losse deliveries and managed 32 runs off 36 deliveries and Lumbini Lions bowlers bowl tight lines with discipline and kept under pressure on Gorkhas losses wickets in quick succession at once time 73/5 in 12 overs . While Santhosh yadav and Gerhard Erasmus provide some resistance and put together 36 runs crucial partnership and Santosh added 26 runs off 16 deliveries and Erasmus and Milind Kumar added 17 valuable runs each .

However, the entire innings changed when captain Karan KC arrived at the crease  Karan and ,he smashed 34 runs off just 11 balls, hitting one boundary and four towering sixes. His clean hitting completely shifted the momentum of the innings. Kathmandu Gorkhas managed 157/8 in 20 overs.

For Lumbini Lions Gulbadin Naib was stand out bowler took 2/20 in 3 overs while Rohit Paudel, Ruben Trumplemann And Sher Malla also chipped with 2 wickets each.

Chasing 158, Lumbini Lions got brisk start openers took the charge  from the very first delivery, struck 18 runs in first over but Milind Kumar Dismissed Sudeep Jora on 7 in his first over ,in second over dismissed Darcy Short who looked dangerous on 22 runs off 11 balls .These breakthroughs put the brakes on the scoring rate and shifted the pressure back onto Lumbini Lions.

While Their two most reliable batter Gulbadin Naib and Rohit Paudel who has been good so far in this tournament but in this match both fell cheaply, Rohit Paudel 11 runs off 16 deliveries and Gulbadin Naib 11 off 6 balls .By the halfway stage, the Lions were struggling at 68/4, far behind the required rate. Kathmandu  bowlers maintained excellent control,  where they strangled the scoring and forced mistakes from the batters.

While Dlip Nath played fighting innings and tried to provide resistance but not get support from other batters, and wickets fall in regular intervals Dilip Nath managed 25 runs from 33 deliveries while at lower order Sher Malla played 27 runs knock from 18 deliveries and featuring 3 sixes but eventually run out by Bhim Sharki and Ben Charlesworth. Eventually Lumbini Lions bowled out on 136 in 19.1 overs and fall short by 21 runs.

Milind Kumar was picked up the bowler for Kathmandu Gorkhas took 2 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs and Gerhard Erasmus also chipped with 2 wickets and Karan kc, Shahab Alam, Rashid Khan and Santosh Yadav chipped with 1 wicket each.

NPL,Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Lumbini Lions Match summary

Toss : Lumbini Lions won the toss and Opted to bowl first

Kathmandu Gorkhas innings : 157/8 in 20 overs

Top scorer: Akash Tripathi 32 runs off 36 deliveries, Karan kc 34 runs from just 11 balls .

Top Bowler : Sher Malla 2/33 in 4 overs, Rohit Paudel 2/9 in 1 overs

Lumbini Lions innings : 136/10 in 20 overs

Top performer : Sher Malla 27 runs off 18 deliveries , Dilip Nath 25 runs off 23 balls

Top Bowler : Milind Kumar 2/18 in 4 overs, Gerhard Erasmus 2/27 in 4 overs

Result: Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 21 runs

Player of the match : Karan kc 34 runs off 11 balls and 1/36