Pokhara Are Still Looking for a First Win; Karnali Need to Stop the Slide

Pokhara Avengers are bottom of the table with no points from four games and a net run rate of -1.679. They have not been routed every time: they lost to Janakpur by only nine runs and posted 145 for 7 against Sudur Paschim. But they have not reached 150 yet, and against Lumbini they were held to 97 for 9. Karnali Yaks are sixth with four points. They beat Janakpur and then chased 187 against Biratnagar off the second-last ball, with Sompal Kami making 62 off 32 and taking 4 for 33. Since then they have lost a close one to Kathmandu, after making 180 for 6, and a heavy one to Sudur Paschim, when David Miller's 93 off 55 was most of their 137 for 7. Neither side plays between now and Monday, so this is the next chance for both.

The early game at Kirtipur has usually been a medium-scoring one, with the spinners and cutters getting help as the ball gets older. Totals between 130 and 160 have been competitive. Pokhara have Shakib Al Hasan, who took 3 for 15 against Janakpur and has been economical all season, and Karnali's batters will probably try to see him off and score at the other end. Karnali's attack of Mark Watt, Hussain Talat, Sompal Kami and Unish Thakuri has done well on this ground.

A possible Pokhara XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Arjun Gharti, Arjun Kumal, Mahedi Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Kiran Thagunna, Yuvraaj Samra, Bipin Khatri, Mohammad Saifuddin, Dhananjaya Lakshan. A possible Karnali XI: Ariful Islam, Pawan Sarraf, David Miller, Hussain Talat, Gulsan Jha, Deepak Dumre, Sompal Kami, Mark Watt, Nandan Yadav, Unish Thakuri, Surya Tamang. Both are based on recent games and may change.