131/5 (18.0)
CR : 7.28
130/6 (20.0)
CR : 6.50
Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 5 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Milind Kumar
3/1519(22)
KMG won by 5 wickets
6:57 PM IST, 7:12 PM LOCAL TIME: The Kathmandu Gorkhas have won the first inaugural match of the second season of the NPL. They beat the Janakpur Bolts by 7 wickets with 15 balls to spare. It should’ve been wrapped up even earlier had Ben not fallen when he did. But a win is a win, and the Gorkhas won big and boosted their NRR by finishing the chase in 18 overs. Meanwhile, the Bolts were outplayed with the bat. After those fiery first two overs where they blasted 26 runs, things looked promising… but they ended with just 130. Not enough. Not close. With 150 or 160, maybe this story reads differently. Tonight, it does not.
Chasing a modest 131, Aakash got going with an inside-edge boundary off the very first ball. Both openers started steadily. Piece by piece. Stroke by stroke. They didn’t rush but didn’t stall either. Boundaries came at a good pace, mostly in each Powerplay over. That laid down the perfect platform, calm but commanding, exactly what a small target demands.
Ben looked pure class throughout. Aggressive. Calculated. Effortless. He picked lengths early and deposited deliveries deep into the stands with surgical precision. With 55 runs in the Powerplay for no loss, the Gorkhas had already snatched control. Their openers built a chase.
Milind then joined Aakash, and the pair settled their nerves. They nudged, rotated, and occasionally found the boundary to keep things simple. Sanjay dismissed the set batter Aakash Tripathi, offering the Bolts a glimmer. But Milind answered back with a six. Then Simpson cracked another six. Those blows punched the pressure away instantly. Mahato removed Milind late, and even Simpson fell to skipper Anil, creating a flash of drama. But it was momentary. Fake excitement. The inevitable stood tall. Alam sealed it with a clean, crisp six.
Earlier in the evening, Kathmandu chose to bowl first. A bold call. And for two overs, it looked wrong as the Bolts’ openers smashed 26 in no time. The pitch looked friendly, the outfield quick. But then Milind stormed through with two wickets in one over. The momentum flipped. Completely. Santosh knocked over Sanjay. Milind struck again. Suddenly, the Bolts were 46/4, digging for stability.
Aasif kept them afloat with a brilliant fifty, looking like he was batting on a different pitch altogether. His fluency stood out. His timing was exceptional. But once Alam dismissed him, the innings lost its spine. A 48-run stand between Mayan Yadav and Lahiru Samarakoon helped push the total to 130, but Milind’s 3-for ensured the Gorkhas were always ahead.
Chasing a modest 131, Aakash got going with an inside-edge boundary off the very first ball. Both openers started steadily. Piece by piece. Stroke by stroke. They didn’t rush but didn’t stall either. Boundaries came at a good pace, mostly in each Powerplay over. That laid down the perfect platform, calm but commanding, exactly what a small target demands.
Ben looked pure class throughout. Aggressive. Calculated. Effortless. He picked lengths early and deposited deliveries deep into the stands with surgical precision. With 55 runs in the Powerplay for no loss, the Gorkhas had already snatched control. Their openers built a chase.
Milind then joined Aakash, and the pair settled their nerves. They nudged, rotated, and occasionally found the boundary to keep things simple. Sanjay dismissed the set batter Aakash Tripathi, offering the Bolts a glimmer. But Milind answered back with a six. Then Simpson cracked another six. Those blows punched the pressure away instantly. Mahato removed Milind late, and even Simpson fell to skipper Anil, creating a flash of drama. But it was momentary. Fake excitement. The inevitable stood tall. Alam sealed it with a clean, crisp six.
Earlier in the evening, Kathmandu chose to bowl first. A bold call. And for two overs, it looked wrong as the Bolts’ openers smashed 26 in no time. The pitch looked friendly, the outfield quick. But then Milind stormed through with two wickets in one over. The momentum flipped. Completely. Santosh knocked over Sanjay. Milind struck again. Suddenly, the Bolts were 46/4, digging for stability.
Aasif kept them afloat with a brilliant fifty, looking like he was batting on a different pitch altogether. His fluency stood out. His timing was exceptional. But once Alam dismissed him, the innings lost its spine. A 48-run stand between Mayan Yadav and Lahiru Samarakoon helped push the total to 130, but Milind’s 3-for ensured the Gorkhas were always ahead.
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Gerhard Erasmus gets the 'Catch of the Match' award.
Santosh Yadav gets the 'Energetic Player of the Match' award.
Aasif Sheikh gets the 'Maximum Fours of the Match' award.
Milind Kumar gets the 'Player of the Match' award.
Milind Kumar (Player of the Match): "You can't imagine a better start than this. It was a little bit two-paced. Some were going on with the arm, some were turning. But later on, under lights the ball was skidding on. (About coach Monty Desai) The most chillest person I have seen. I don't have words to express about the crowd."
Karan KC (Winning Captain): “It’s a fantastic way to start the tournament, and I’m really happy with how the team performed. Nepali players haven’t played on this ground for almost a year, but everyone adapted well. The spinners were outstanding - Milind, Erasmus, and all the boys really stepped up. It’s a special win for us.”
(On everything clicking together) “Yes, it felt like things went our way today because the team showed great character. They stepped up at the right moments, and that made the difference.”
(On using 14 overs of spin on a fresh surface) “Since our players hadn’t played here for a long time, our focus was simply to stick to basics. The ball was skidding a bit, and the spinners were getting good assistance. Both off-spinners did well, and the left-armers bowled beautifully too. Full credit to the spin unit, as they deserved today’s success.”
(On Ben and the opening combination) “Ben usually comes in the middle, but today he took responsibility at the top. And Aakash Tripathi - he was wonderful. The way he batted with so much composure set the tone for our chase and helped us control the game.”
(On the historic first day-night match) “It’s a very special moment for me, for the team, and for Nepal cricket. Winning the first game under lights in Kathmandu makes it even more memorable.” “Thank you. It’s a great start, and we’ll try to keep the momentum going.”
(On everything clicking together) “Yes, it felt like things went our way today because the team showed great character. They stepped up at the right moments, and that made the difference.”
(On using 14 overs of spin on a fresh surface) “Since our players hadn’t played here for a long time, our focus was simply to stick to basics. The ball was skidding a bit, and the spinners were getting good assistance. Both off-spinners did well, and the left-armers bowled beautifully too. Full credit to the spin unit, as they deserved today’s success.”
(On Ben and the opening combination) “Ben usually comes in the middle, but today he took responsibility at the top. And Aakash Tripathi - he was wonderful. The way he batted with so much composure set the tone for our chase and helped us control the game.”
(On the historic first day-night match) “It’s a very special moment for me, for the team, and for Nepal cricket. Winning the first game under lights in Kathmandu makes it even more memorable.” “Thank you. It’s a great start, and we’ll try to keep the momentum going.”
And with that, we wrap up the first match of NPL Season 2. The Gorkhas start with a strong win - confident, clinical, composed. The Bolts? Plenty to rethink, especially in that middle order. They’ll be glad the game stretched this far, but in truth, the gap felt bigger than the margin.
Until then, I am Dev, signing off, along with my co-commentators Karthik and Manan, and scorer Yogesh. That’s it from our side for tonight’s action. But cricket doesn’t sleep, and plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!
Until then, I am Dev, signing off, along with my co-commentators Karthik and Manan, and scorer Yogesh. That’s it from our side for tonight’s action. But cricket doesn’t sleep, and plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!