Lumbini Lions eliminated from NPL losing to Kathmandu Gurkhas
With this loss, Lumbini became the first team to be knocked out of the competition.
KATHMANDU: Lumbini Lions have been eliminated from the Nepal Premier League (NPL) after suffering an 18-run defeat to Kathmandu Gurkhas.
With this loss, Lumbini became the first team to be knocked out of the competition.
Chasing a modest target of 104 runs set by Kathmandu, Lumbini was all out for 85 in 19.2 overs. Sundeep Jora top-scored for Lumbini with 26 runs, hitting two boundaries off 29 balls.
Umpiring changes saw Unmukt Chand fall for 13 off 19 balls, while captain Karan KC dismissed him. Surya Tamang remained unbeaten on 11, while captain Rohit Paudel made 8. Tom Mores and opener Ashutosh Ghireya both fell cheaply, scoring 6 and 4 runs, respectively.
Kathmandu’s captain Karan KC took four wickets, while Deepesh Kandel claimed three, and Gerhard Erasmus took two wickets.
Earlier, Kathmandu won the toss and chose to bat first, but were bowled out for just 103 in 19.2 overs. Bhim Sarki was the top scorer for Kathmandu, making 31 runs from 40 balls, including one boundary. He survived a close run-out chance in the 13th over when he was on 24, as bowler Vivek Yadav missed the opportunity.
Dwayne Bravo made 21 runs before being dismissed after 24 balls, while Pratik Shrestha added 20 runs off 14 balls, including two sixes. Michael Levitt, Stephan Eskinazi, and Gerhard Erasmus were dismissed cheaply. Levitt was bowled out for a duck by Raymond Simonds, while Scannazi was dismissed for 13 by Abhishek Gautam.
Lumbini’s bowling was led by Saad Bin Zafar, who claimed three wickets, with Abhishek Gautam and Raymond Simonds taking two wickets each.
With this loss, Lumbini’s NPL campaign came to an end with just two points from six matches, including one win and five losses. This defeat also made them the first team to be eliminated from the league.
Previously, they had lost to Biratnagar Kings, Pokhara Avengers, Sudurpashchim Royals, and Janakpur Bulls but secured a win against Chitwan in their last match.
Kathmandu, on the other hand, improved their standing with two wins and two losses, moving up to fifth place on the points table.
Their win keeps their playoff hopes alive.
In Wednesday’s match, Janakpur, the top team, was defeated by Sudurpashchim Royals in the second match.
Two games are scheduled for Thursday, with Pokhara Avengers facing Biratnagar Kings in the morning, followed by a match between Janakpur Bolts and Kathmandu Gurkhas.
