Mark Watt Shines in NPL with Record-Breaking Century
Kathmandu, Nov. 23 – The TU International Cricket Stadium witnessed two thrilling matches on Saturday: Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions and Biratnagar Kings vs Kathmandu Gorkhas. Both matches had clear winners, but the day was undoubtedly dominated by Scottish international Mark Watt, who made a stunning debut for the Karnali Yaks in the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
Watt, a left-arm spinner, has an impressive record of 110 ODI wickets and 89 T20I wickets for the Scottish national team. However, his batting statistics are less impressive, with 294 runs in 38 innings in ODIs and 733 runs in 55 innings in T20Is. Despite this, Watt proved to be the key batsman for the Yaks on Saturday.
He scored a century in just 41 deliveries, hitting six fours and ten sixes. This was the first ton of the season and the second century in NPL history, following Andries Gous’ 104 off 55 balls in the inaugural season. Watt’s performance was even more remarkable as he completed his century in six fewer deliveries than Chris Gayle’s T20 World Cup record of 47 balls.
Watt finished the chase of 157 runs with two consecutive sixes in the first two balls of the 13th over, remaining not out at 114 off 44. His spectacular performance helped the Yaks secure their first win in two matches, with 46 balls and nine wickets remaining.
A Night to Remember for Fans
The sound of Watt’s bat, whenever he hit boundaries, resonated like a song for thousands of Karnali fans, who were dancing to the rhythm of his powerful shots. After the match, Watt expressed his surprise at his performance, saying, “Honestly, I don’t know.” When asked who he wanted to dedicate the knock to, he said, “To Karnali!”
Watt also thanked the Karnali team for bringing him to the NPL and appreciated the opportunity to bat higher up the order. He mentioned that he was nervous during his 90s, but the motivation from his teammate Will helped him through.
After opener Priyank Panchal, who missed his century by 10 runs in the previous match, departed for 12 off 10, Watt and William Bosisto (29 off 20) formed a 123-run partnership for the second wicket.
Strong Bowling Performance
Karnali’s bowling attack also delivered a strong performance. Rohit Kumar Paudel, the national men’s team skipper leading the Lions, was the only one to stand against the effective bowling. However, when he was dismissed for 50 in the 17th over, the Lions were at 113 runs.
JJ Smit (23 off 14) and Ruben Trumplemann (29 off 14) helped the Lions cross the 150-run mark, but it was not enough to counter Watt’s power and luck.
Shakti Gauchan, consultant coach of the Lions, praised the NPL platform for young players. He highlighted the potential of Karnali’s spinners Bipin Prasad Sharma and Yubraj Khatri, stating that they could become great spinners in the future.
Marchand de Lange’s Debut
South African pacer Marchand de Lange had a mixed debut in the NPL. In his first match against Pokhara Avengers, he gave away 48 runs in four overs but managed to clean bowl Dan Douthwaite. However, in his next match against Kathmandu Gorkhas, he was economical, giving only 17 runs and picking two wickets.
Shubham Ranjane, Surya Tamang, and Sandeep Lamichhane also took one wicket each, helping the Kings restrict the Gorkhas to 134/6 in the first innings.
Biratnagar Kings Secure Victory
Kathmandu Gorkhas struggled to reach a competitive total, with Mohammad Adil Alam playing a crucial role in their innings. He remained not out at 48 off 25, forming a 45-run partnership with Santosh Yadav.
Biratnagar faced a paltry target but still managed to complete the chase with five wickets and 17 balls remaining. Their top five batters played decently, but the pressure was not as intense as expected.
Looking Ahead
The Gorkhas have one win in three matches, while Biratnagar secured their second victory of the season. Both teams are looking forward to their upcoming games.
There is a break on Sunday, but Monday will see two fixtures between the neighboring teams. Biratnagar will face Janakpur in the first match, while Sudurpaschim will play against Karnali.
