In the first match of the day, Shahab Alam took a hat-trick and took six wickets as Kathmandu Gorkhaz defeated Pokhara Avengers by 13 runs to formally qualify for the playoffs.
What you should know
Sudurpaschim Royals have reached Qualifier 1 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket for the second consecutive year. Sudurpaschim continued their 100 percent winning streak by defeating Chitwan Rhinos by 49 runs on Thursday.
In the first match of the day, Shahab Alam took 6 wickets including a hat-trick as Kathmandu Gorkhaz defeated Pokhara Avengers by 13 runs to formalize the playoffs. The records set in these two matches on Thursday are as follows:
– For the first time in the Nepal Premier League, a hat-trick of wickets has been possible. This good fortune went to Shahab Alam of Kathmandu Gorkhaz. He took three wickets in a row in the last over of the match against Pokhara Avengers. He dismissed Rishi Dhawan, Bipin Khatri and Akash Chand in the first 3 balls of the last over.
– Shahab Alam of Kathmandu has bowled the best in NPL history. He took 6 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs against Pokhara. He surpassed William Bosisto of Karnali Yaks. Bosisto took 6 wickets for 28 runs against Pokhara last year.
– Bhim Sarki of Kathmandu has made a record of a half-century in the third fewest balls in NPL. He scored a half-century in 19 balls against Pokhara. This season, Sudurpaschim's Harmit Singh scored a half-century in 19 balls against Kathmandu, and last year, Janakpur Bolts' Jimmy Neesam scored a half-century in 18 balls against Chitwan Rhinos.
– Kathmandu's Milind Kumar has become the first player to take 5 catches in a single match. He achieved this record against Pokhara on Thursday. Kathmandu's Gerhard Erasmus took 4 catches against Chitwan this season.
– Chitwan's Ravi Bopara has become the first player to complete 500 runs in the NPL. He has scored 236 runs in 6 matches this season, including 3 half-centuries. Last season, he scored 286 runs in 8 matches, including 3 half-centuries.
– Sudurpaschim Royals have become the first team to win 6 consecutive matches in the NPL.
