Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Karnali Yaks : NPL 2026

Kathmandu Gorkhas secured their first victory of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 season with a four-wicket win over Karnali Yaks in the 10th match on Monday, November 2. Chasing 181 runs, Kathmandu reached 181/6 in 19.4 overs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

The victory was an important comeback for Kathmandu after losing their opening match against Janakpur Bolts. Meanwhile, Karnali Yaks suffered their first defeat of the season after winning their opening two matches.

Karnali Yaks Set a Target of 181 Runs

After winning the toss, Kathmandu Gorkhas elected to bowl first. Karnali Yaks posted a competitive total of 180 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Ariful Islam was Karnali's leading scorer, making 44 runs off just 22 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes. Hussain Talat also contributed 40 runs from 30 balls, providing stability to the middle order.

Pawan Sarraf remained unbeaten on 30 runs off 24 deliveries, while Gulshan Jha added 20 runs from 12 balls. Their contributions helped Karnali set a target of 181 runs for Kathmandu.

For Kathmandu, captain Karan KC led the bowling effort with two wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. Jahandad Khan, Shahab Alam, Santosh Yadav and Dev Shah also claimed one wicket each.

Kathmandu Gorkhas Complete a Successful Run Chase

In reply, Kathmandu Gorkhas faced the challenge of chasing 181 runs. Despite losing wickets during the innings, the team maintained its momentum through important partnerships and attacking batting performances.

Rashid Khan played a crucial innings, scoring 50 runs off 33 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. His contribution helped Kathmandu maintain control of the chase.

Captain Karan KC further strengthened the innings with an impressive 44 runs off just 20 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. His partnership with Rashid Khan proved important in bringing Kathmandu closer to the target.

Jahandad Khan then provided the finishing contribution, remaining unbeaten on 22 runs off 10 deliveries. His consecutive sixes against Pawan Sarraf in the 19th over shifted the momentum towards Kathmandu.

Kathmandu reached the target in 19.4 overs, finishing at 181/6 to secure a four-wicket victory with two balls remaining.

Player of the Match and Top Performers

Kathmandu Gorkhas captain Karan KC was named Player of the Match for his valuable all-round contribution. He scored 44 runs off 20 balls and also took two wickets for 35 runs in four overs.

Rashid Khan was another major contributor for Kathmandu, scoring 50 runs off 33 deliveries to lead the team's successful chase.

For Karnali Yaks, Ariful Islam was the top scorer with 44 runs from 22 balls, while Hussain Talat added 40 runs off 30 deliveries.

Key Individual Performances:

• Player of the Match: Karan KC (Kathmandu Gorkhas)

• Kathmandu Gorkhas' top scorer: Rashid Khan – 50 runs (33 balls)

• Karnali Yaks' top scorer: Ariful Islam – 44 runs (22 balls)

• Best all-round contribution: Karan KC – 44 runs and 2 wickets

• Key finishing performance: Jahandad Khan – 22* runs (10 balls)

Match Impact and Tournament Standings

The victory gives Kathmandu Gorkhas their first two points of the NPL 2026 season after their opening defeat. The team will take confidence from its successful run chase and the contributions of its key players.

For Karnali Yaks, the defeat ends their winning start to the tournament after two consecutive victories. Despite posting 180 runs, the team was unable to defend its total against Kathmandu's batting performance.

The result also extends Kathmandu Gorkhas' winning record against Karnali Yaks across three consecutive NPL seasons, adding another interesting chapter to their tournament rivalry.

Conclusion

Kathmandu Gorkhas secured an important four-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks to register their first win of the NPL 2026 season. Strong batting performances from Rashid Khan and Karan KC, followed by Jahandad Khan's late contribution, helped Kathmandu complete the successful run chase. The team will now look to maintain this momentum in its upcoming matches, while Karnali Yaks will aim to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.