By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Dec 04, 2025 11:42 AM • 30 views
KIRTIPUR: In a contest that swung violently between gritty resistance and explosive aggression, the Kathmandu Gorkhas booked their place in the Nepal Premier League playoffs with a hard-fought 13-run victory over the Pokhara Avengers on Thursday. On a surface at the TU Cricket Ground that demanded application, it was the contrasting brilliance of Bhim Sharki with the bat and Shahab Alam with the ball that sealed the fate of the match, dismantling a spirited Pokhara chase that threatened to steal the show. The victory lifts the Gorkhas to second on the points table, firmly establishing them as title contenders, while the Avengers are left to rue a collapse that leaves their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Gorkhas' Tale of Two Halves
Sent in to bat, the Gorkhas' innings was a study in recovery. The early exchanges belonged to the Avengers' seamers, who reduced Kathmandu to a precarious 21 for two inside the powerplay. The loss of Aakash Tripathi and Rashid Khan left the middle order exposed to the moving ball. Ben Charlesworth provided the necessary ballast. His composed 64 off 55 balls was not the most fluid innings of the tournament, but it was arguably one of the most vital. He absorbed the pressure, allowing the innings to breathe, even as wickets chipped away at the other end. However, the headline-grabbing cameo came from Bhim Sharki. Entering the fray with the innings needing impetus, Sharki unleashed a counter-attack that completely shifted the momentum. His blistering 55 off just 23 deliveries—studded with five fours and four sixes—was a masterclass in clean hitting. He transformed a par score into a competitive 165 for 8, taking 52 runs off the final four overs alongside Charlesworth. That late assault proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Avengers' Chase: The Dhawan Resistance
Chasing 166, the Pokhara Avengers needed a steady start but found themselves in trouble from the outset. The top order, including the dangerous Jason Roy (16) and Adam Rossington (5), failed to fire, leaving the chase in disarray at 55 for 4. Enter Rishi Dhawan. The veteran all-rounder produced a fighting knock of 54 from 31 balls, partnering with Dhananjaya Lakshan (30) to stitch together a partnership that briefly silenced the Gorkhas' supporters. Dhawan's aggression brought the equation down to manageable proportions, and for a fleeting period in the middle overs, the Avengers looked favourites to pull off a heist.
The Turning Point: Alam's Hex
The match, however, will be remembered for the spell that killed it. Shahab Alam, introduced to break the partnership, did far more than that—he dismantled the entire lineup. In a spell of left-arm spin bowling that will be replayed for years, Alam claimed a sensational 6-wicket haul, including a historic hat-trick that ripped the heart out of the Avengers' lower middle order.
Alam's ability to vary his pace and extract a sharp turn on a wearing pitch was unplayable. He removed the set batters and then cleaned up the tail with ruthless efficiency. His figures of 6 for 25 are not just a personal best but a statement of intent from the Gorkhas' attack. Despite a few late blows, the Avengers were bowled out for 152 in the final over, falling agonisingly short.
What It Means
The result guarantees the Kathmandu Gorkhas a top-four finish and a place in the playoffs, joining the Sudurpaschim Royals. For the Pokhara Avengers, the path is now perilous. Stuck in fifth place with just two wins, they must now rely on other results going their way and win their remaining fixtures to have any chance of progressing.
