With Rossington's unbeaten century, Pokhara defeated Karnali by 34 runs, keeping their playoff chances alive, while Karnali is out of the competition.
What you should know
Adam Rossington's century kept Pokhara Avengers alive in their hopes of reaching the playoffs by defeating Karnali Yaks by 34 runs in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket match on Tuesday.
After Rossington scored an unbeaten 108 runs, Pokhara, who came in to bat after losing the toss, scored 201 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs at the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Ground, Kirtipur. Pokhara is the second team to cross 200 runs in the NPL. Biratnagar Kings scored 220 runs against Pokhara in the same tournament.
Despite an aggressive half-century by Watt, Karnali, who came in reply, were all out for 167 runs in 19 overs. Pokhara won its second win in five matches. The team needs to win the remaining two matches to keep its hopes of reaching the playoffs alive. Karnali has become the first team to be eliminated from the playoff equation. The team has won only 1 of its 6 matches. Karnali, who finished third last season, has already suffered 5 defeats.
Watt scored 59 runs in 34 balls. He hit 4 fours and 5 sixes. Priyank Panchal hit 2 sixes for 16 in 11 balls, Jaikishan Kolsawala 6, Pawan Saraf was out for 19 runs in 14 balls, hitting 1 six and a four. Najibullah Zadran scored 24 runs in 15 balls, hitting 2 fours and 1 six.
Gulshan Jha 9, Deependra Sawat 10, captain Sompal Kami 13, Younis Singh Thakuri 3 runs and Bipin Sharma was out for zero. Rishi Dhawan and Dhananjay Lakshman took 3 wickets for Karnali. Former Indian fast bowler Dhawan gave away 37 runs in 4 overs and Sri Lankan Lakshman gave away 31 runs in 4 overs. Captain Kushal Bhurtel, Kiran Thagunna, Sandeep Chhetri took 1 wicket each.
Rossington's century is the third century in NPL history and all three are in the name of foreign players. Scottish batter Mark Watt of Karnali scored 114 runs against Lumbini Lions in the same tournament and last year, American player Andries Gauss of Pokhara scored 104 runs against Lumbini.
Rossington completed his century in 55 balls. Watt scored his century in 41 balls against Lumbini. Gauss scored his century in 54 balls. The 32-year-old Rossington hit 11 fours and 7 sixes in a total of 58 balls.
After captain Kushal Bhurtel was out for 18 runs with 3 fours and 1 six in 17 balls, Rossington shared a 127-run partnership for the second wicket with England's World Cup winner Jason Roy, who was playing his first match in the tournament.
Roy was out for 46 runs. He hit 2 fours and 3 sixes in 34 balls. Dhananjay Lakshman, who was also playing his first match in the tournament, remained unbeaten on 23 runs in 11 balls with 3 fours and 1 six. Karnali's Nandan Yadav took 1 wicket each for 34 runs in 4 overs and Watt for 24 runs in 3 overs. Captain Sompal Kami took 50 runs in 4 overs and Gulshan Jha took 35 runs in 3 overs but failed to take any wickets.
