Chitwan Rhinos set the target of 131 runs against Karnali Yaks at the first game of the day in the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Friday.

Karnali won the toss and chose to bowl first, restricting Chitwan Rhinos to 130-7 in the 20 overs.

Ravi Bopara with impressive batting made 59 [off 40 balls] not out raising the score to 130.

With a shaky start, Chitwan Rhinos lost opener Luc Benkenstein in the first over at 0 [off 4 balls]. Karnali took three wickets within powerplay at 6 overs with just 28 runs.

Ravi Bopara and Kushal Malla with a partnership of 59 runs set the score to 82-4 in 13.3 overs. Rhinos lost two major wickets in the 16th over with Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton at 9 [off 12 balls] and Sohail Tanvir at 0 [off 2 balls]. Amar Rautela 9 off 8 balls

Karnali Yaks’ Bipin Prasad Sharma with a fine form of ball took 3 wickets giving 21 runs. Zeeshan Maqsood took two wickets while Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav took a wicket each.

The second clash of the day is set at 1:15 pm between the Lumbini Lions and the Pokhara Avengers.