Karnali Yaks vs Kathmandu Gurkhas Result: Kathmandu Chase 181 With Two Balls to Spare at Kirtipur
Published on November 2, 2026
Summary Overview: Kathmandu Gurkhas beat Karnali Yaks by 4 wickets with two balls to spare in NPL 2026 at Kirtipur, their first win of the season. Captain Karan KC took 2 for 35 and hit 44 off 20 to be Player of the Match, and Rashid Khan made 50 off 33 in the chase of 181.
Who won? Kathmandu Gurkhas, by 4 wickets with two balls to spare at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. Karnali Yaks made 180 for 6, and Kathmandu reached 181 for 6 in 19.4 overs.
Why does it matter? It is Kathmandu's first win of NPL 2026.
Who starred? Captain Karan KC took 2 for 35 and then hit 44 off 20 balls, and was named Player of the Match. Rashid Khan made 50 off 33, and Jahandad Khan finished it with 22 not out off 10.
What about Karnali? Ariful Islam smashed 44 off 22, and Hussain Talat made 40 and took 2 for 32. It was not enough to defend 180.
Match Report: Kathmandu Get Off the Mark
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by wickets when it chases down the target; "4 wickets" means Kathmandu had four of their ten wickets left.
Karnali's Innings: Ariful's Blitz, Then Talat and Sarraf
Kathmandu captain Karan KC won the toss and chose to bowl. He struck in the second over, having Jishan Alam caught for 7, but Bangladesh's Ariful Islam went on the attack. He hit five fours and three sixes in 44 off 22 balls, and Karnali made 65 in the six-over powerplay.
Shahab Alam removed Ariful in the seventh over, and Karnali lost three wickets for 12 runs. Santosh Yadav had Deepak Dumre caught, and Dev Shah removed Mark Watt (17). From 66 for 1, Karnali were 78 for 4.
Hussain Talat and Pawan Sarraf rebuilt with 65 off 47 balls. Talat made 40 off 30 before he was out hit wicket, which means he knocked his own stumps over with his bat or body while playing a shot, off Jahandad Khan. Gulshan Jha hit two sixes in 20 off 12, and Sarraf finished on 30 not out, hitting a six in the closing balls as Karnali took 9 runs from the last two deliveries to reach 180 for 6.
Kathmandu's Chase: Rashid and Karan Turn It Around
Karnali captain Sompal Kami bowled David Warner for 16 in the second over, and Nandan Yadav bowled Smit Patel for 9. Kathmandu made only 41 in the powerplay, far behind Karnali's 65.
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Aadil Alam added 54, but Mark Watt removed Aadil Alam (20 off 27), and Hussain Talat had Bhim Sharki caught. At 89 for 4 in the 13th over, Kathmandu needed 92 from 45 balls.
Then captain Karan KC came in and changed the game. He and Rashid added 55 off just 26 balls. Rashid reached 50 off 33 before Talat had him caught, and Karan hit four fours and three sixes in 44 off 20 before Kami removed him at 160 for 6.
Kathmandu still needed 21 from 12 balls. Jahandad Khan hit two sixes in 22 not out off 10, and with Santosh Yadav (5 not out) he added the 21 runs needed in just 10 balls.
Turning Point: The Karan KC and Rashid Stand
At 89 for 4, needing more than 12 runs an over, Kathmandu were in trouble. Karan KC and Rashid Khan scored 55 in 26 balls, more than two runs a ball, and brought the target within reach. Karan, who had already taken two wickets, was the difference between the sides.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Karan KC (c) | Kathmandu Gurkhas | 44 (20), 4 fours, 3 sixes, and 2 for 35, Player of the Match |
| Rashid Khan | Kathmandu Gurkhas | 50 (33), 3 fours, 2 sixes |
| Jahandad Khan | Kathmandu Gurkhas | 22* (10), 2 sixes, and 1 for 37 |
| Santosh Yadav | Kathmandu Gurkhas | 1 for 8 (2 overs) |
| Ariful Islam | Karnali Yaks | 44 (22), 5 fours, 3 sixes |
| Hussain Talat | Karnali Yaks | 40 (30), and 2 for 32 (4 overs) |
| Sompal Kami (c) | Karnali Yaks | 2 for 44 (4 overs) |
| Mark Watt | Karnali Yaks | 1 for 26 (4 overs), the most economical spell of the match from four overs |
* not out
How the Game Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Ariful's fast start | Karnali 65 for 1 (6 overs) |
| Three wickets for 12 runs | 66 for 1 to 78 for 4 |
| Talat and Sarraf stand | 65 off 47 balls for the 5th wicket |
| Karnali total | 180 for 6 (20 overs) |
| Kathmandu's slow start | 41 for 2 (6 overs) |
| Kathmandu in trouble | 89 for 4 (12.3 overs) |
| Karan KC and Rashid stand | 55 off 26 balls for the 5th wicket |
| Jahandad and Santosh finish | 21 off 10 balls for the 7th wicket |
| Kathmandu win | 181 for 6 (19.4 overs) |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 6 overs |
| Karnali Yaks | 65 for 1 |
| Kathmandu Gurkhas | 41 for 2 |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| Karnali Yaks | Jishan Alam, Ariful Islam, Deepak Dumre (wk), Hussain Talat, Mark Watt, Pawan Sarraf, Sompal Kami (c), Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, Yuvraj Khatri, Unish Bikram Thakuri |
| Kathmandu Gurkhas | Smit Patel (wk), David Warner, Bhim Sharki, Rashid Khan, Karan KC (c), Mohammad Aadil Alam, Santosh Yadav, Jahandad Khan, Dev Shah, Shahab Alam, Ripon Mondol |
Karnali's David Miller and Sahibzada Farhan were on the bench. Kathmandu's Sam Heazlett, KS Bharat and Sahan Arachchige were also on the bench.
What's Next
| Match | Date | Fixture | Nepal (NPT) | UTC | IST | PKT | ET |
| 12th Match | Tue, Nov 3 | Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 11:45 AM | 1:45 AM |
| 13th Match | Tue, Nov 3 | Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 4:15 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 15th Match | Thu, Nov 5 | Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Biratnagar Kings | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 4:15 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 16th Match | Fri, Nov 6 | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 11:45 AM | 1:45 AM |
All matches at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. NPT is Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Karnali Yaks vs Kathmandu Gurkhas?
- Kathmandu Gurkhas, by 4 wickets with two balls to spare.
Who was Player of the Match?
- Kathmandu captain Karan KC, for 44 off 20 balls and 2 for 35.
Is this Kathmandu's first win of NPL 2026?
- Yes.
How many did Rashid Khan score?
- 50 off 33 balls, with three fours and two sixes.
What is a hit wicket?
- A batter is out hit wicket if they knock the stumps over with their bat or body while playing a shot or setting off for a run. Hussain Talat was out this way for 40.
When do Kathmandu Gurkhas play next?
- Thursday, November 5, against Biratnagar Kings at 5:00 PM Nepal time.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Kathmandu Gurkhas Squad and Schedule for NPL 2026
📋 Karnali Yaks Squad and Schedule for NPL 2026
📋 Biratnagar Kings vs Karnali Yaks, NPL 2026: Sompal Kami Wins a Thriller With One Ball to Spare
📋 Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers, NPL 2026: Trit Raj Das and Moeen Ali Win It for Janakpur
📋 Nepal Premier League 2026 Schedule: Full NPL Season 3 Fixtures, Teams and Match Times