The Pokhara Avengers had yet another forgettable game against the Karnali Yaks. They seemed poised for a big total when their opening pair added 46 runs in under four overs. However, once Andries Gous departed for 25, the Avengers collapsed spectacularly from 46-0 to 103 all out. With such a dismal total, they suffered a 7-wicket defeat. The Avengers now sit seventh on the table, while the Biratnagar Kings occupy the bottom spot. The Avengers’ only win came from a match where their openers stitched an unbeaten 176-run partnership. Once again, the performances of those two openers and their two left-arm spinners will be crucial to their chances.
The Biratnagar Kings missed a golden opportunity to secure back-to-back wins and climb up the table, failing to chase a modest target of 134. They suffered a narrow 7-run defeat at the hands of the Karnali Yaks. Despite the loss, there were positives for the Kings, including Nicholas Kirton’s 40-run knock and Pratish GC’s four-wicket haul. However, both teams are grappling with their captains’ poor form. Kushal Bhurtel has managed just 16 runs from three matches, while Sandeep Lamichhane has taken only one wicket in four games.
With both teams having identical records of one win and three losses from four matches, a loss in their upcoming games could effectively end their playoff hopes, given their poor net run rates.
Probable Playing XI (Pokhara Avengers)
Dinesh Kharel
Andries Gous (Wk)
Kushal Bhurtel (C)
Marcus Critchley
Dilip Nath
Michael Leask
Narayan Joshi
Raymon Reifer
Bipin Khatri
Akash Chand
Sagar Dhakal
Probable Playing XI of Biratnagar Kings
Lokesh Bam (WK)
Martin Guptill
Aqib Ilyas
Naren Bhatta
Nicholas Kirton
Basir Ahamad
Dipak Bohara
Pratish GC
Sandeep Lamichhane (c)
Chris Sole
Jitendra Mukhiya/Subash Bhandari
