In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, Adam Rossington's explosive performance kept Pokhara's playoff dreams alive! His incredible innings not only showcased his skill but also injected a dose of excitement into the Nepal Premier League (NPL). Let's dive into the details of this unforgettable match.
Rossington, with his signature bat-tap and upward-angled handle, took a moment to find his rhythm. After a couple of quiet balls, he exploded into action, smashing a six and two consecutive fours. The result? An unbeaten 108 runs off just 58 deliveries, featuring a stunning 11 fours and 7 sixes! This phenomenal display powered the Pokhara Avengers to a formidable 201/2 in their allotted 20 overs.
This was no ordinary feat. It marked the NPL's third-ever century, the second of the season, and the league's second-highest individual score. It was also only the second time a team had surpassed the 200-run mark. Talk about setting the stage!
Pokhara, after losing the toss, found themselves batting first. Opening alongside skipper Kushal Bhurtel, who was playing in that position for the first time in five matches, Rossington witnessed Bhurtel's promising start. However, Bhurtel was caught out at 18 off 17 in the 4.5th over, with the team at 34 runs. By the end of the powerplay, the score was 44/1. Little did anyone know, a batting storm was brewing!
Rossington, the 32-year-old from England's domestic scene, formed a crucial 127-run partnership with his English teammate, Jason Roy, who has represented England in 116 ODIs, 64 T20Is, and five Tests. Roy, in his first NPL match, narrowly missed out on a half-century, departing at 46 off 34. The team reached 161/2 in 16.5 overs thanks to his efforts.
Rossington remained on the crease until the first innings concluded, joined by Dhananjaya Lakshan (23 off 11), the Sri Lankan batting all-rounder who debuted in the NPL that day. Rossington's maiden NPL ton, completed in just 55 deliveries, followed his previous near-miss of 81 runs against the Lumbini Lions on November 29. He became only the third player to score a century in the NPL and the second of the season.
“It was a good feeling,” Rossington said, beaming with the Player of the Match award. “The partnership with Roy was great for us. It was what helped the pressure get off of me.”
Defending the 200+ target proved challenging, as the pitch favored the batsmen. Mark Watt, the season's first centurion, smashed Bipin Khatri for a maximum after a wide delivery in the second innings' first ball. Karnali started with 17 runs off the first over, including another six and a single.
Priyank Panchal then hit two consecutive sixes in the third over, ensuring a good partnership with Watt. However, he departed in the first ball of the next over at 16 off 11, leaving the team at 34 runs. But Watt kept Karnali in the chase.
As wickets fell, Watt was caught out in the deep cover point while attempting his sixth six. “Watt’s wicket was the most important one for us because he was batting very well,” Rossington said. “The pitch was favourable for the batsmen, so defending the big target was still not easy.”
Here's where it gets interesting: Rossington currently leads the NPL Season 2 run-scorers with 253 runs in five innings. He's followed by Watt (242 runs in six innings) and Ravi Bopara (207 runs in five innings).
Karnali's skipper Sompal Kami, a key bowler for the Nepali team, was the most expensive bowler, conceding 50 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. Nandan Yadav and Watt each picked up a wicket.
Raju Basnyat, coach of the Yaks, pointed out that the lack of partnerships and momentum cost them the match.
“Set batsmen were returning to the pavilion in such a good batting wicket,” he said. “We also did not have a good time on the fielding side. Similarly, domestic players could not perform well for us.”
Except for Pawan Sarraf (19 off 14) and Sompal Kami (13 off 9), no other Nepali players scored in double figures for the Yaks, who were bundled out at 167 runs in 19 overs. Lakshan and Dhawan took three wickets each, while Kiran Thagunna, Sandeep Chhetri, and Kushal Bhurtel picked one each for the Avengers, who won by 34 runs.
This victory propelled Pokhara to fourth place in the points table with four points from two wins in five matches. The Yaks, after their fifth loss in six matches, are now out of playoff contention.
“Still, we will be playing our last match to win,” Basnyat said. “The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has been organizing tournaments regularly. But more tournaments should be held at the provincial, district, and club levels. It will allow domestic players to be in a better form for the NPL, where they will learn more against the experienced players coming from around the world.”
Now, let's shift gears and look at another team's journey.
Janakpur Bolts, after a disappointing start to their title defense, found themselves struggling. Despite having former West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul as their head coach, they seemed to lose momentum.
After defeats against several teams, the Bolts faced Chitwan Rhinos. The Bolts Army, though present, didn't see their banner at the stadium on Tuesday.
“It seems they were also dissatisfied with us as we kept losing,” Bolts’ Anil Kumar Sah said after the team's first win of the season, which came against Chitwan Rhinos. “But we are sure they were supporting us from other places, and we know they will come to the stadium again.”
Sah, who missed the previous match, returned in style, smashing 61 off 36 to help the team defeat the Rhinos by six wickets while chasing 177 runs.
The 177-run target, set by the Rhinos thanks to a 112-run partnership between Dawid Malan and Arjun Saud, felt insufficient. Saud scored 52 off 39, while Malan fell as the fourth wicket in 18.2 overs. Malan scored 80 off 54.
Saif Zaib, Bopara, and Routela were in single figures, while Kushal Malla (30 off 14) pushed the Rhinos further after the openers departed.
Janakpur saw two half-centuries, with opener Maaz Sadaqat scoring 63 off 30 alongside Sah's 61 off 36. A decent play from Aasif Sheikh (18 off 18), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (11 off 9), and Aditya Mahata (18 off 7) helped the team secure their first win.
The big question: Numerically, both the Bolts and Rhinos, along with Pokhara and Lumbini, still have a shot at the playoffs.
Biratnagar Kings and Lumbini Lions will be playing on Wednesday. A win for the Kings against the Lions would secure their place in the playoffs.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Rossington's performance was the defining moment of the match? And what do you think about the call for more domestic tournaments? Share your opinions in the comments below!
