Kathmandu Gurkhas defeated Pokhara Avengers by six wickets at the Nepal Premier League Match played at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 139, Kathmandu cruised to victory with 35 balls to spare, reaching 142-4 in just 14.1 overs.

Earlier, Pokhara Avengers won the toss and opted to bat first, but their innings quickly unravelled as they could only manage 138-8 in their allotted 20 overs. The opening pair of Dinesh Kharel and Andries Gous struggled, with Gous (0) falling to a catch off Michael Levitt and Kharel (38) dismissed lbw by Rashid Khan. Kushal Bhurtel (7) and Aakarshit Gomel (8) were both dismissed by Khan and Levitt, respectively, leaving Pokhara at a precarious 54-4.

Dilip Nath provided brief resistance with 27 runs, but wickets continued to fall as Michael Leask (1), Narayan Joshi (0), and Bipin Khatri (4) were sent back cheaply. Raymon Reifer played a valiant knock of 41 not out from 30 balls, but the damage had already been done, and Pokhara finished their innings at 138-8. Karan KC and Rashid Khan were the standout bowlers for Kathmandu, claiming three wickets each, while Levitt took one.

In response, Kathmandu’s chase was led by Stephen Eskinazi, who bludgeoned 60 from 34 balls, including 10 boundaries. His blistering knock set the tone for the chase, with Michael Levitt contributing a quickfire 32 from 18 balls. However, both were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Kathmandu at 125-4. Bhim Sharki (22) and Gerhard Erasmus (25 not out) then guided the team to victory with relative ease, finishing the chase in just 14.1 overs.

With the win, Kathmandu Gurkhas now have six points from six matches. Chitwan Rhinos and Gurkhas are in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with six points each. Janakpur Bolts are at the top with 10 points, while Sudurpaschim Royals and Karnali Yaks are in the second and third spots with eight points each. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs. Kathmandu will play their final match against Biratnagar Kings on Sunday.