KATHMANDU: Pokhara Avengers secured their first win in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Lumbini Lions, powered by a brilliant century from Andries Gous.
Gous, along with Dinarsh Kharel, put together a record-breaking opening partnership as Pokhara chased down Lumbini’s target of 171 runs in just 16.5 overs.
Gous finished unbeaten on 104, becoming the first player to score a century in the NPL. His blistering knock, which included 12 boundaries and 5 sixes, came off just 55 balls.
Gous reached his century in style, hitting a boundary off Vivek Yadav on the last ball of the 16th over.
He became the fastest player to score a half-century in the NPL, completing it in just 20 balls with the help of 5 fours and 3 sixes, surpassing Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airi’s previous record of 23 balls for a half-century.
Dinarsh Kharel, who was at the other end, finished with an unbeaten 61 runs off 46 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes.
The pair’s unbroken 165-run partnership set a new NPL record for the highest opening partnership and was the third-highest partnership overall in the league’s history.
The previous record for the highest opening partnership was held by Janakpur’s Anil Shah and Asif Sheikh, who added 84 runs against Karnali Yaks.
Gauss and Kharel’s stand surpassed the previous NPL record for the highest partnership, which was 116 runs for the third wicket between Lahiru Milantha and Harsh Thakar of Janakpur Bolts against Biratnagar Kings.
Earlier, Lumbini Lions, batting first after winning the toss, posted 170/5 in their 20 overs at the TU Ground in Kirtipur.
The bulk of the runs came from captain Rohit Poudel, who made a valiant 95 off 59 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. However, Rohit fell just short of his century, being run out on the final ball of the innings while attempting a risky third run.
Rohit’s knock was part of a crucial 110-run fourth-wicket partnership with Tom Murs, who contributed 45 runs off 38 balls, with 2 fours and 2 sixes.
Lumbini’s openers, Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Unmukta Chand, both failed to get off the mark, departing for ducks. Sandeep Jora added 18 runs from 15 balls, hitting 2 fours and a six.
On the bowling side, Pokhara’s Bipin Khatri impressed with figures of 2/18 from 3 overs, while Matt Critchley claimed 1 wicket.
Pokhara’s dominant win by 10 wickets and the records set in the process mark a statement of intent in their NPL campaign.
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