Rohit’s hat-trick bundles Sudurpaschim out for 85 in NPL final (photos)
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sudurpaschim collapsed to 85 all out in 19.1 overs—their lowest total of the tournament and the first time they failed to cross the 100-run mark in NPL history.
KATHMANDU: Captain Rohit Paudel produced a sensational hat-trick to bowl Sudurpaschim Royals out for a modest 85, putting Lumbini Lions firmly in control of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) final at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Saturday.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sudurpaschim collapsed to 85 all out in 19.1 overs—their lowest total of the tournament and the first time they failed to cross the 100-run mark in NPL history.
The turning point came in the 11th over when Rohit struck with three consecutive deliveries, dismissing Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Deepak Bohara, and Puneet Mehra. Airee scored 13 off 20 balls, while Bohara and Mehra were both out for golden ducks. Rohit’s fiery spell left Sudurpaschim reeling and handed complete control to Lumbini.
This was only the second hat-trick in NPL history, following Kathmandu Gorkhas’ Shahab Alam, who achieved the feat earlier in the tournament against Pokhara Avengers.
Sudurpaschim’s troubles began early when Binod Bhandari was dismissed for a duck on the final ball of the first over. Namibian pacer Ruben Trumpelmann then removed Indian batter Sheldon Jackson for 1 via LBW in his next over. Aarif Sheikh fell for 6 to Sher Malla, before Rohit’s hat-trick deepened the collapse.
Harmit Singh scored 10, including a six, before becoming Sher’s third victim. Opener Hemant Dhami top-scored with a patient 33 off 51 balls, hitting one four, but found little support at the other end. Scott Kuggeleijn made 10 off 8 balls, while Avinash Bohara managed just 1. Hemant Dhami remained unbeaten on 7.
Sher Malla finished with three wickets, taking his tournament tally to 17 and moving joint-top of the leading wicket-takers list alongside Biratnagar Kings’ Sandeep Lamichhane.
Rohit Paudel, Sher Malla, and Ruben Trumpelmann each claimed three wickets, with Rohit conceding just 12 runs in four overs.
Trumpelmann was equally economical, giving away only 3 runs in 2.1 overs, while Tilak Raj Bhandari picked up one wicket.
With a commanding bowling performance, Lumbini Lions seized the upper hand in the NPL final, leaving Sudurpaschim Royals with a daunting task to defend their title hopes.
Photos:
