Simpson’s 25-ball fifty lifts NPL to 15 half-centuries

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Gorkhas’ John Simpson hammered a blistering half-century in the ongoing second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Friday.

Playing against Chitwan Rhinos at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Simpson reached his fifty in just 25 balls, becoming the first Kathmandu Gorkhas batter to score a half-century this season.

With Simpson’s knock, the 2025 NPL season has now seen 15 half-centuries, contributed by 12 different players.

Simpson is the 12th player to cross the 50-run mark.

Earlier, Chitwan Rhinos’ Ravi Bopara had scored three half-centuries, while Pokhara Avengers’ Kushal Bhurtel struck two.

Others with a half-century each include:

• Binod Bhandari, Josh Brown, and Harmit Singh (Sudurpaschim Royals)

• Lokesh Bam, Martin Guptill (Biratnagar Kings)

• Priyank Panchal (Karnali Yaks)

• Sumit Burma (Pokhara Avengers)

• Wayne Parnell, Aasif Sheikh (Janakpur Bolts)

Karnali’s Mark Watt remains the only player to have scored a century in the ongoing tournament.