After starting the season with a solid five-wicket win over defending champions Janakpur Bolts, Kathmandu Gorkhas have now suffered two back-to-back defeats. In a short tournament like the NPL, three losses can push your fate into the hands of net run rate or other teams’ results. That’s exactly what happened last year when the Gorkhas missed out on the playoffs due to a poor net run rate. They certainly don’t want to repeat that script.

So, what went wrong in the last two matches?

Despite having the Royals — last year’s finalists — at 27/4 at one stage, the Gorkhas allowed them to post a competitive total of 147 when it looked like they’d struggle to reach 130. A series of dropped catches opened the door, followed by a “Harmeet Hurricane” as he smoked a 20-ball 53.

A target of 148 under lights wasn’t daunting. At the halfway mark, Kathmandu were in a comfortable position at 87/3. All they needed from there was almost run-a-ball cricket. Instead, they added only 31 more runs and were bowled out in 16.5 overs. Yes, several umpiring decisions went against them, but they also benefited from a lucky wicket of Josh Brown in the first innings. Ultimately, the Gorkhas’ batters played careless shots and allowed the Royals to storm back into the game. That collapse was more than enough to hand them a 29-run defeat.

For the next game, they made three changes — none of which paid off. Marchant de Lange found his rhythm early, taking 2 for 5 in his opening 3-over spell.  Ricardo Vasconcelos was run out in his first outing — the team’s second run-out in back-to-back matches. The Gorkhas slumped to 22/3 after the power play. There were only two boundaries in the power play, including one off the last ball of the sixth over. In the first 15 overs, the Gorkhas managed just two fours and two sixes.

To put things into perspective, the Bolts had nine boundaries (eight fours and one six) in the first game when they batted first and posted 130/6 against the Gorkhas. *Excluding one leg bye*

Erasmus struggled on his return, scoring a laboured 18-ball 10. When he fell, most expected John Simpson to walk in. Instead, youngster Santosh Yadav was promoted — a decision backed by coach Monty Desai, who rates him highly as an all-rounder. He couldn’t get going either, managing only 26 off 24 with a solitary six. Ben Charlesworth, brilliant in the opening game, played an indifferent innings of 32 off 33. It eventually took a 24-ball unbeaten 48 from Aadil Alam — who was dropped twice by Ranjane — to lift the Gorkhas to 134. They couldn’t utilise the batting of Rashid Khan and Karan KC properly, leaving key resources underused in the first innings.

A total of 134 was never going to be enough against the Kings’ strong top order unless Kathmandu took early wickets. Biratnagar Kings blasted half the target (67/1) in the first six overs. Despite a few jitters along the way, they won by five wickets. With at least six bowling options available (Aadil Alam is yet to bowl) and batting depth down to No. 10, the Gorkhas simply haven’t maximised their resources.

This season, Kathmandu have tried to counter left-arm spin in the middle overs by signing two left-handed overseas batters. Santosh was preferred ahead of Dipesh mainly for his batting talent. The addition of Aadil Alam has strengthened the middle order. Aakash Tripathi, Aadil Alam, and Ben Charlesworth have all produced one good knock each so far, but they need a few more players to step up. None of their batters has scored a fifty yet.

The Gorkhas have made at least one change in every match and have already used all six overseas players. Simpson, Charlesworth, Erasmus, and Kumar started in the season opener. By the third game, Kumar — the Player of the Match in the first game — missed out, and Erasmus returned after sitting out the second match, where Sunny Patel played for his leg-spin option. They now need to settle on the right combination if they want to return to winning ways. They face the Lions next in a day-night match after a two-day break. Heading into their fourth D/N game, they must maximise their batting resources if they bat first and show smarter intent when chasing. The Lions, meanwhile, come in bruised after Mark Watt’s assault — a breathtaking, unbeaten 114 off 44 deliveries featuring 12 sixes, his first professional century.