Follow the highlights from the Nepal Premier League 2024 Eliminator where Karnali Yaks defeated Chitwan Rhinos by 21 runs
Chitwan Rhinos: Kushal Malla (c), Kamal Singh Airee, Deepak Bohara, Rijan Dhakal, Basil Hameed, Marchant de Lange, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Hassan Eisakhil, Santosh Karki, Luc Benkenstein, Gautam KC, Sallahuddin Khan, Ranjit Kumar, Bipin Rawal (wk), Ravi Bopara, Amar Routela, Nar Sarki, Dipesh Shrestha, Sohail Tanveer, Sharad Vesawkar.
Karnali Yaks: Sompal Kami (c), Will Bosisto, Mousom Dhakal, Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Dumre, Rit Gautam, Arjun Gharti (wk), Babar Hayat, Gulshan Jha, Dev Khanal, Bhuvan Karki, Zeeshan Maqsood, Dipendra Rawat, Bipin Sharma, Unish Singh, Nandan Yadav, Chadwick Walton (wk).
Chitwan Rhinos have won the toss and decided to bowl first against the Karnali Yaks.
Chitwan Rhinos: Kushal Malla (c), Rijan Dhakal, Hassan Eisakhil, Santosh Karki, Luc Benkenstein, Ranjit Kumar, Bipin Rawal (wk), Ravi Bopara, Amar Routela, Sohail Tanveer, Sharad Vesawkar.
Karnali Yaks: Jaykishan Kolsawala, Sompal Kami (c), Will Bosisto, Rit Gautam, Arjun Gharti (wk), Gulshan Jha, Dev Khanal, Zeeshan Maqsood, Bipin Sharma, Nandan Yadav, Chadwick Walton (wk).
Rijan Dhakal has the ball in hand for the Rhinos, and Jaykishan Kolsawala, Rit Gautam are at the crease to open for the Yaks as Babar Hayat has not been picked for the Eliminator. Kolsawala takes strike for the first ball, and ticks off a boundary towards midwicket off the second delivery to get the Yaks going.
Veteran Pakistani seamer Sohail Tanvir dismisses Rit Gautam off his very first ball, moving the ball away from the right-hander and inducing an outside edge. Zeeshan Maqsood arrives at the crease and smacks a four off Sharad Vesawkar before the off-spinner has the final laugh, having Maqsood caught behind square on the leg side. Meanwhile, Kolsawala is looking in good nick and has raced away to 25 off 19 balls in the powerplay.
Indian batter Jaykishan Kolsawala, who represents Baroda in domestic cricket, is making his mark in the NPL 2024 Eliminator. That too in his maiden outing. The 35-year-old southpaw is nearing a half-century and has clattered 46 runs off 32 balls in the first half of the innings. Quite a remarkable introduction to the league. Meanwhile, Will Bosisto is giving him good company from the other end, having scored 19 runs off 15 balls. The Yaks scoring at around eight an over at the moment.
Kolsawala gets cramped up, and falls off the very next ball. The experienced former England cricketer Ravi Bopara gets rid of the dangerman to delight the Rhinos camp. Kushal Malla then dismisses Nepal teammate Gulsan Jha to leave the Yaks four down. Bosisto has carried on nicely, meanwhile, and Chadwick Walton has joined forces with him. 18 runs come off an exhilarating 15th over, Yaks now on the move big time.
Chadwick Walton and Will Bosisto have given the innings the final flourish it deserved after the strong platform laid by Jaykishan Kolsawala. The West Indian-Aussie duo together smashed 67 runs off 28 balls to propel the Yaks run rate. Walton ended unbeaten at 46 off 23 balls as the Yaks notched up their highest total in NPL 2024 thus far - 175 runs. A challenging target for the Rhinos, but the pitch is true and a good one for batting. Buckle up for what should be an exciting chase.
Karnali Yaks skipper Sompal Kami dislodges the dangerous Hassan Eisakhil in the very first over, having him caught by Gulsan Jha. Chitwan Rhinos are jolted early in their 176-run chase. Luc Benkenstein walks out to join Bipin Rawal at the crease.
Sompal Kami has Bipin Rawal, too caught by Gulsan Jha to get the Rhinos' openers out of the way. Zeeshan Maqsood then cleans up Luc Benkenstein to leave the chasing side three down in the powerplay. Senior pro Ravi Bopara now at the crease alongside Rhinos captain Kushal Malla.
A clinical bowling performance from Karnali Yaks takes them to a comprehensive 21-run win over the Chitwan Rhinos. 154 runs in all the Rhinos can muster in 20 overs, losing nine wickets in the bargain. And with that, the Yaks are through to Qualifier 1.
Karnali Yaks are just a step away from final now despite having started the season with a couple of losses. Chadwick Walton was the hero for them with a stunning 46 not out from 23 balls on a tough pitch.
Karnali Yaks will now face the loser of Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts match in the second qualifier.
We will take your leave now. A good start to the play-offs for Karnali Yaks while Chitwan Rhinos are eliminated.