KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Kathmandu Gurkhas have secured their second victory by defeating Lumbini Lions in the second match of the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday. After this defeat, the Lions have been eliminated from the group stage of the NPL.
After losing by 18 runs against Kathmandu Gurkhas in their sixth match of the NPL on Wednesday, the Lions, led by Captain Rohit Paudel of the Nepali national cricket team, was stopped in the group stage. He has only 2 points from 6 matches. Lumbini Lions will face Karnali Yaks on Friday in their last match of the NPL.
After Wednesday's victory, the Gurkhas’ chances of reaching the playoffs, though slim, are still alive. With their second win in the fourth match, they have climbed to the fifth position with four points.
NPL: Lumbini Lions to face Kathmandu Gurkhas today
Lumbini Lions were bowled out for 85 runs in 19.3 overs, while chasing a modest target of 104 runs set by Kathmandu Gurkhas at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Sundeep Jora scored 26 runs, Unmukt Chand scored 14 runs and Surya Tamang scored 11 runs. Other batters could not score runs in double figures. However, the bowler from Kathmandu conceded 11 extra runs.
Captain Karan KC took 4 wickets, Dipesh Kandel 3 wickets, Gerhard Erasmus claimed 2 wickets and Rashid Khan took 1 wicket while covering Lumbini Lions cheaply.
Earlier, the Gurkhas, who won the toss and batted first, were bowled out for 103 runs in 19.2 overs. Bhim Sarki scored the highest 31 runs. Similarly, seven batters scored in double digits before returning to the pavilion in Gurkhas’ innings. Dan Douthwaite made 21 runs, Pratik Shrestha scored 20, and Stephen Eskinazi contributed 13 runs.
On behalf of Lumbini Lions, Saad Bin Zafar took 3 wickets, Abhishesh Gautam and Ramon Simmonds took 2 wickets each and Surya Tamang and Bivek Yadav took one wicket each.
In the first match on Wednesday, Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Janakpur Bolts by 72 runs. This is Janakpur’s first defeat in the ongoing NPL. After the defeat, Janakpur has dropped to second place with 8 points. Following the victory, Sudurpashchim has climbed to the top of the table, surpassing Janakpur in terms of net run rate, though both teams have the same number of points.
