When Gandaki Province skipper Bipin Khatri won the toss and opted to bat first, he would not have imagined walking in at number eight as early as the sixth over. It was not as if he was unaware of the challenging morning conditions. He had anticipated the first 10-15 overs to be tough but expected batting to get easier later. However, considering the track record at the Extra Tech Ground in Bhairahawa, Khatri wanted his team to bat for fifty overs and post a competitive total. After all, teams batting first had won each of the previous five matches, with the lowest total being 174 by APF—who secured a 100-run victory over Bagmati in the first game at the venue.
Despite losing a wicket in the first over, Gandaki were 14/1 after two overs. Arjun Kumal capitalized on Bipin Mahato’s short and wide deliveries, dispatching two boundaries in his first three legal deliveries. However, the experienced Firdosh Ansari struck back with a double-wicket maiden, rocking Gandaki’s top order and reducing them to 14/3. Mahato, guilty of bowling short and wide in his first over, quickly adjusted his length and started pitching the ball up. Another double-wicket maiden followed, leaving Gandaki in deep trouble at 14/5. Mahato continued to bowl fuller deliveries, and Gandaki’s batters kept throwing their bats at them. Only skipper Bipin Khatri was dismissed while attempting to pull Mahato, getting played on. Both pacers bowled relentless eight-over spells. Mahato, who had conceded 10 runs in his first four deliveries, gave away only 7 runs in his next 44 balls, finishing with stunning figures of 8-3-17-6. His senior bowling partner was even more economical, returning figures of 8-5-10-3. Gandaki were eventually bowled out for 31—the second-lowest total in Men’s Prime Minister Cup history.
It was not an onslaught of express pace or threatening body blows but simply disciplined line-and-length bowling from the two pacers. The pitch had shown signs of variable bounce from the first game at the venue when Bagmati Province faced APF. In that match, right-arm pacer Nadan Yadav claimed three top-order wickets, while Rijan Dhakal bagged a five-for in the first innings. Later, in the second innings, the pace trio of Kamal Airee, Abinash Bohara, and Amar Routela took seven wickets between them. At the time of writing, pacers have claimed 53 wickets at this venue, compared to 50 by spinners.
Fourteen months ago, Koshi Province skipper Ankit Subedi, in his post-match presentation, admitted that his team did not deserve to compete in the tournament after being bowled out for just 25—the lowest total in PM Cup history—against Gandaki while chasing 168 at Mulpani Cricket Ground. On that occasion, Bipin Khatri played a key role, scoring 42 during a crucial 76-run partnership with Muskan Thapa, who made 67 off 122 balls. Khatri was also the chief destroyer with the ball, taking 6/4 from seven overs with his left-arm spin.
This is not the first time that young and tall Bipin Mahato has wreaked havoc. During last year’s U-19 Men’s National Tournament, he claimed a seven-wicket haul against Madhesh Province, though he still ended up on the losing side. Tall fast bowlers are a rare commodity in Nepal, and while Mahato is not quick, his smooth action and ability to extract movement off the pitch make him a valuable asset. The conditions at the Extra Tech Oval seem ideal for preparing Nepali batters for overseas challenges, where they have often struggled against pace, bounce, and swing.
