Kathmandu: Ben Charlesworth and Bhim Sharki starred with the bat, while Shahab Alam delivered a sensational bowling as Kathmandu Gorkhas edged Pokhara Avengers by 13 runs to clinch a playoff berth in the Nepal Premier League T20 at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Thursday.

Invited to bat first, a composed knock from English opener Charlesworth and a quickfire innings by lower-middle order batter Sharki powered the Gorkhas to 165–8, with 83 runs coming in the final six overs.

With the ball, Shahab Alam was the standout, taking six wickets—including a last-over hat-trick—as the Gorkhas bowled out the Avengers for 152 on the final delivery of the innings. He also became the first bowler to claim a hat-trick in NPL.

The Gorkhas’ fifth win, and fourth in a row, strengthened their hold on second place with 10 points from all seven league matches. Third-placed Biratnagar Kings, who have a match in hand, remain the only team capable of overtaking them if they beat table-toppers Sudurpaschim Royals with a significantly superior net run rate.

The Royals are the only undefeated side and have already secured a playoff spot with a perfect 10 points from five matches. Pokhara Avengers, meanwhile, sit sixth with two wins and four losses for four points.

Batting first, the Gorkhas lost wickets at regular intervals, but Charlesworth held firm against the Avengers’ attack, providing much-needed stability with a composed 64 off 55 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes.

Sharki, coming in at No. 7, was instrumental in lifting the Gorkhas to a competitive total. The player of the match blasted a brisk 55 off just 23 deliveries, striking five boundaries and four sixes.

With the Gorkhas struggling at 79–5 in the 14th over, Charlesworth and Sharki injected momentum into the innings, adding 76 runs for the sixth wicket before the Englishman was caught by Dhananjaya Lakshan off Bipin Khatri.

Sharki fell on the third ball of the final over, caught by Jason Roy off Lakshan. Milind Kumar (11) was the only other Gorkhas batter to reach double figures.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Lakshan impressed with the ball, returning 4–16 from his four overs including a maiden. Kushal Bhurtel claimed 2–25 from his four overs.

In reply, the Avengers’ top order faltered, slipping to 55–4. Middle-order batter Rishi Dhawan mounted a strong fightback, blasting a 31-ball 54 with three boundaries and two sixes.

Dhawan shared a 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Lakshan, who contributed a crucial 30 off 27. But Lakshan’s dismissal at 131–5 triggered a dramatic collapse, with the final five wickets falling for just 21 runs.

Top-scorer Dhawan fell to Shahab Alam—caught by Milind Kumar—off the first ball of the final over, with the Avengers needing 20 runs. Alam then removed Bipin Khatri and Aakash Chand in the next two deliveries before Sagar Dhakal was dismissed off the final ball.

Captain Kushal Bhurtel (22) and Jason Roy (16) were the other batters to manage double digit for Avengers.

Shahab Alam finished with extraordinary figures of 6–25 from four overs. Captain Karan KC and Sunny Patel chipped in with two wickets each.