Karnali Yaks have posted a competitive target of 150 runs for Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Nepal Premier League on Sunday, steered by an aggressive innings from Gulshan Jha at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Karnali finished on 149 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began disastrously, with Kathmandu captain Karan KC removing Priyank Panchal caught-and-bowled off the very first delivery, before William Bosisto was run out for 1 to leave Karnali in early trouble.

Mark Watt and Pawan Sarraf steadied the innings with a 59-run stand for the third wicket. Watt scored 30 off 27 balls, hitting one four and two sixes, before being run out. Sarraf made 35 from 29 deliveries, including two fours and a six, before falling lbw to Santosh Yadav.

Karnali lost quick wickets in the middle overs, including Najibullah Zadran for 12 and captain Sompal Kami for 6. But Gulshan Jha revived the innings with a blistering unbeaten 49, hammering six fours and three sixes in his 22-ball stay. He shared a vital 55-run partnership off 28 balls with Deepak Dumre, who contributed 10 runs from 12 balls.

For Kathmandu, Rashid Khan took 2 for 27 from his four overs, while Karan KC, Milind Kumar and Santosh Yadav claimed a wicket apiece.

Kathmandu made one change to their line-up, bringing in Bhim Sharki for Dipesh Kandel, while Chitwan opted to retain the same squad as in their previous match.

Kathmandu, with three wins from five matches, are pushing strongly toward the playoffs and can nearly secure qualification with a win today. Karnali, having lost three of their four games, face a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive.