KATHMANDU, Dec 8: English allrounder Saif Zaib displayed his mastery of both batting and bowling in Nepal Premier League on Saturday as Sudurpaschim Royals beat Lumbini Lions by 45 runs, propelling them to the top position in the league.
Having won the toss, Lions invited Royals to bat in the first inning, which saw the Royals post a high total of 187 runs at the loss of four wickets. Opener Zaib scored 90 runs off 61 deliveries, hitting six fours and five sixes. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee scored a quickfire 39 runs off 19 balls, with four fours and two sixes. Scottish allrounder Brandon McMullen scored 23 runs off 20 balls, hitting a four and a six.
From the Lions’ bowling front, West Indian bowler Ramon Simmonds claimed the highest of two wickets while captain Rohit Paudel and Bibek Yadav took one wicket apiece. Having bowled the allotted four overs, captain Paudel was the only bowler with an economy rate of below six runs per over.
NPL: Kathmandu Gurkhas register their second victory, beat Lumb...
Chasing the target of 188 runs, the Lions’ batting attack was rattled by the Royals’ bowling front as three batsmen were sent back to the pavilion for golden ducks. Both Zaib and and Scottish allrounder Brandon McMullen took three wickets each while New Zealander allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn took wickets at a miserly economy of 4.75 runs per over. For the Lions, Bibek Yadav played an unbeaten inning of 77 runs off 54 deliveries, hitting three fours and seven sixes.
Yaks defend low total against Kings
The second game played on Saturday saw Karnali Yaks defend a low total of 133 runs, beating Biratnagar Kings by a tight margin of seven runs.
Inviting the Yaks to bat first after winning the toss, Kings shined on the bowling front, bundling up the Yaks in the final ball of the inning. Four of the Yaks’ batsmen were sent back to the pavilion for ducks. Only Australian batsman WIlliam Bosisto and Dev Khanal registered runs in two digits, both scoring half-centuries. Bosisto scored 66 runs off 49 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes while Khanal scored 53 runs off 48 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.
From the Kings’ bowling front, allrounder Pratis GC took a four-wicket haul, conceding just 19 runs in his allotted four overs. Scottish bowler Chris Sole and Basir Ahamad took two wickets each in their allotted four overs each.
In the second inning, Kings’ batsmen failed to chase the low target of 134 runs. Opener Lokesh Bam started off the inning with a blitz of 19 runs off 9 balls scoring one four and two sixes. Canadian allrounder Nicholas Kirton scored 40 runs off 39 deliveries, scoring four fours and a six.
From the Yaks’ bowling attack Nandan Yadav took three wickets while Bipin Sharma took two wickets and even bowled a maiden over. Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma and Bosisto all claimed a wicket apiece.
