NPL: Nepali bowlers shine, foreign batsmen dominate

KATHMANDU: The second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has completed 10 matches as of Monday, with eight teams competing for the title. Sudurpashchim Royals currently top the points table, winning three consecutive matches to accumulate six points.

Biratnagar Kings, also with six points from three matches, sit second based on net run rate.

Kathmandu Gorkhas sits third with one win in three matches, followed by Lumbini Lions in fourth place with a similar record.

Chitwan Rhinos are fifth, Karnali Yaks sixth, defending runners-up Janakpur Bolts seventh, and Pokhara Avengers remain at the bottom of the table.

Batting Dominated by Foreign Players, Bowling by Nepalis

The tournament has seen impressive batting performances from foreign players. Karnali Yaks’ overseas player has scored the most runs so far, totaling 147, including the tournament’s only century. Chitwan Rhinos’ Ravi Bopara follows with 118 runs and two half-centuries.

Nepali players have also featured prominently, with Biratnagar Kings’ Lokesh Bam scoring 114 runs and Pokhara Avengers’ captain Kushal Bhurtel making 112, including two half-centuries.

In bowling, Nepali players dominate the leaderboard.

Biratnagar Kings’ captain Sandeep Lamichhane leads with seven wickets, followed by Sudurpashchim’s Hermit Singh with six.

Karnali Yaks’ Sompal Kami and Kathmandu’s captain Karan KC share the third and fourth spots with six wickets each.

Karnali’s overseas player, Milind Kumar, has five wickets.

Centuries and Half-Centuries

So far, the season has seen one century and ten half-centuries, with foreign players leading.

The sole century came from Karnali Yaks’ Mark Watt, who scored a blistering 114* against Lumbini Lions in just 41 balls, making him the fastest centurion in NPL history.

Watt also set the record for the highest individual score in a single innings this season.

Nepali batsmen have scored three half-centuries: Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, and Aasif Sheikh. Bhurtel is the only Nepali to hit half-centuries in consecutive matches.

Other players with half-centuries include Ravi Bopara (2), Priyank Panchal, Martin Guptill, Josh Brown, Hermit Singh, and Sheikh.

Team Records: Biratnagar Scores Highest, Karnali Lowest

Biratnagar Kings hold the record for the highest team score in the season, posting 220 against Pokhara Avengers—also the highest in NPL history.

Sudurpashchim Royals follow with 193 runs against Pokhara.

The lowest team score has been 94 by Karnali Yaks against Sudurpashchim.

As the tournament progresses, teams will aim to consolidate their standings while foreign and local talents continue to shine in both batting and bowling.