Former India opener and a member of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016-winning team Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Shikhar Dhawan had a disappointing maiden outing at Nepal Premier League (NPL). Karnali Yaks opener Dhawan departed for a run-a-ball 14 against Janakpur Bolts.
In the first over of the innings, Dhawan got off the mark with a boundary. In the second over, Lalit Rajbanshi dismissed Dev Khanal. Dhawan hit a couple of more boundaries before he lost his wicket to Canadian off-spinner Harsh Thaker.
This was Dhawan's first outing in a nation's premier franchise T20 league since he announced his retirement post-IPL 2024.
Babar's slow knock
After powerplay overs, Yaks were 31/2. Mohammad Mohsin got rid of West Indies' wicketkeeper-batter Chadwick Walton and Hong Kong's Babar Hayat. Before Babar fell for a 25-ball 12, Zeeshan Maqsood was dismissed lbw for a two-ball duck by James Neesham.
Cameos help Yaks post fighting total
Gulsan Jha pushed the scoring rate in the middle overs alongside Arjun Gharti. In the 16th over, Jha fell to Kishore Mahato. He scored 36 runs from 27 balls including a four and three sixes. In the penultimate over, Gharti went berserk and smashed Thaker for two sixes and as many fours. Thaker ended up conceding 45 runs in his quota of four overs.
Skipper Sompal Kami went all guns blazing in the final over and hit him for two fours and a six before Gharti was run out trying to get him on the strike. Gharti departed for a 22-ball 33. In the final over, Neesham conceded 21 runs as Yaks posted 141/7 on the board. Kami remained unbeaten for a 13-ball 29 after he won the toss and opted to bat first.
