KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Lumbini Lions and Kathmandu Gurkhas will face off in the second match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket on Wednesday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 pm at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
The Gurkhas are led by captain Karan KC, while Rohit Paudel serves as the captain for the Lions. The Gurkhas will be playing after a five-day break, whereas the Lions have already played four consecutive matches during this period.
In the points table, the Gurkhas are in sixth place with 2 points from 3 matches. Similarly, the Lions also have 2 points from 5 matches but is one spot above the Gurkhas in fifth place based on net run rate.
Lumbini Lions still hold a slim hope of making the playoffs, while Kathmandu Gurkhas will also be under pressure to secure a win. If the Lions emerge victorious in today's match, their playoff hopes will ignite, whereas the Gurkhas will face a setback.
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If, on the other hand, the Gurkhas wins, it will significantly boost their chances in the playoff race, while the Lions will be certain to exit. Therefore, today's match will be crucial for both teams.
Kathmandu Gurkhas also suffered a loss at the start of the tournament but won their second game before losing the third. In the first match, they were bowled out for a low score against Chitwan Rhinos, secured a 3-wicket win in the second game, but faced a humiliating defeat in the third.
Even the one win the Gurkhas secured was not an easy one. The 3-wicket victory included a cameo from Karan KC and a composed innings from Sumit Maharjan.
Gurkhas’ top order has not been performing as expected. Overseas players Stephen Eskinazi and Michael Levitt have been unable to convert their starts into big scores. Similarly, Gerhard Erasmus has not been consistent with his batting but has performed well with the ball. If they can resolve their batting issues, the remaining four matches will be easier for them. In pace bowling, Karan KC and Rashid Khan have been decent, while in spin, Erasmus, along with Shahab Alam and Nathan Sowter, has also been satisfactory.
Kathmandu Gurkhas still has matches remaining against Janakpur Bolts, Pokhara Avengers, and Biratnagar Kings after facing Lumbini Lions.
On the other hand, Lions’ situation requires them to win all their remaining matches and rely on other results. They secured a win in their fifth match on Tuesday.
Captain Rohit Paudel has put up a good all-round performance, but there has been no consistent performance from others. They already introduced three changes in their opening combination, but they have not been able to perform well in the opening so far. While overseas player Saad Bin Zafar has been performing well, big name Ben Cutting has not been able to make an impact.
In Tuesday's match, Rohit Paudel played an all-round role to lead his team to victory. In pace bowling, Durgesh Gupta and Ramon Simonds have been decent, while in spin, Zafar and captain Rohit have performed well. Young bowler Abhishek Gautam has also taken wickets.
After facing the Gurkhas, the Lions still have a match remaining against Karnali Yaks. The Lions are under pressure to win both matches and will also have to rely on the results of other teams.
