The Kathmandu Gorkhas officially sealed their place in the NPL playoffs after defeating the Pokhara Avengers by 13 runs in the first match of the final league day. The win not only cemented their spot but also kept their championship hopes alive.

Gorkhas Set a Competitive Total of 165/8

Batting first, the Gorkhas posted 165 runs for 8 wickets.

⭐ Key Performers

• Ben Charlesworth – 64 (55)
  A composed and steady innings that held the scoreboard together.

• Bhim Sharki – 55 (23)
  A destructive knock that smashed the Avengers’ bowling attack all around the ground.

Pokhara’s bowlers did show resistance:

• Kushal Bhurtel – 2 wickets

• Dhananjaya Lakshan – 2 wickets

Their efforts ensured the Gorkhas couldn’t cross the 170+ mark despite a strong start.

Avengers Fall Short at 152 All Out

Chasing 166, the Pokhara Avengers were restricted to 152 all out in 20 overs, falling short by just 13 runs.

⭐ Avengers’ Top Contributions

• Rishi Dhawan – 54 (31)
  A powerful innings that kept Pokhara in the chase.

• Dhananjaya Lakshan – 30 (27)
  Provided support but couldn’t maintain momentum.

Apart from them, only Kushal Bhurtel (22) and Jason Roy (16) reached double digits, leading to pressure in the middle overs.

Shahab Alam: The Match-Winner With 6 Wickets 🔥

The highlight of the match came from the Gorkhas’ bowling lineup.

• Shahab Alam stole the show with an outstanding 6/25 in 4 overs, producing one of the finest spells of the tournament.

• Karan KC and Sunny Patel chipped in with two wickets each, crushing the Avengers’ hopes in the final overs.

Playoff Race: Gorkhas Through, Avengers Under Pressure

With this loss, Pokhara Avengers now face a must-win situation in their remaining games to stay alive in the playoff race.