Chitwan Rhinos defeated Kathmandu Gurkhas by five wickets at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday in the opening match of the both the teams in the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League 2024. (Tournament Guide | More Cricket News)
Sohail Tanvir was the star of the show for the Rhinos as it was his five-wicket-haul that paved the way for their easy win.
Rhinos had won the toss and decided to field first. Check below the Playing XIs of both the teams.
Chitwan Rhinos Playing XI
Kushal Malla (c), Rijan Dhakal, Bipin Rawal (wk), Luc Benkenstein, Santosh Karki, Hassan Eisakhil, Sohail Tanvir, Amar Routela, Deepak Bohara, Ravi Bopara, Sharad Vesawkar
Kathmandu Gurkhas Playing XI
Stephen Eskinazi, Michael Levitt, Shahab Alam, Shankar Rana, Bhim Sharki, Sumit Maharjan, Gerhard Erasmus, Karan KC (c), Rashid Khan, Dan outhwaite, Dipesh Kandel
The former Pakistani left-arm pacer dismantled the top order of the Gurkhas, picking up three wickets in the powerplay itself. Gurkhas could never recover from the jolt with the new ball from Tanvir and kept losing wickets without registering any decent partnership. Tanvir then came back in the 19th over to take two more wickets and complete his five-wicket haul which became the first in the new tournament.
Tanvir's 21/5 restricted Gurkhas to just 111/9 in 20 overs.
Despite just 112 to defend, Gurkhas tried to make a comeback in the game with Shahab Alam's left-arm spin. The Nepal left-arm spinner struck twice in his first two overs to make things troublesome for the Rhinos top order.
However, the target was just too little to defend and ultimately a 46-run unbeaten partnership for the sixth wicket between Santosh Karki and Sharad Vesawkar guided the Rhinos home with 17 balls still remaining in the contest.
Tanvir was adjudged the Player Of The Match.
