Sudurpaschim Royals maintained their perfect start to the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025, securing a convincing seven-wicket victory over the Lumbini Lions in a daytime match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground today. Wicketkeeper-batsman Binod Bhandari was the star of the chase, powering the Royals to the top of the points table with his unbeaten half-century.
Lions’ Innings: Collapse Halts Momentum
Winning the toss, Sudurpaschim Royals elected to bowl first, a decision that proved fruitful, despite a solid start by the Lions.
- Lumbini Lions posted a total of 143 runs, being bowled out in 19.4 overs.
- The innings saw a promising third-wicket partnership between Captain Rohit Paudel (35 off 36) and Dilip Nath (31 off 29), who added 52 runs to steady the ship after an early burst from D’Arcy Short (18 off 11).
- However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the death overs as the Lions’ lower order collapsed, losing a staggering seven wickets for just 39 runs.
- The Royals’ bowling attack was spearheaded by joint three-wicket hauls from spinner Harmeet Singh (3/22) and pace bowler Abinash Bohara (3/26), with Hemant Dhami contributing two wickets.
Royals’ Chase: Bhandari Anchors the Run Hunt
Chasing a target of 144, the Royals suffered early setbacks, losing openers Josh Brown and Chris Lynn cheaply. However, the partnership between Binod Bhandari and Aarif Sheikh ensured a comfortable victory.
- Sudurpaschim Royals comfortably chased the target, finishing at 145/3 with 10 balls to spare.
- The chase was anchored by Binod Bhandari, who scored a magnificent and unbeaten 69 runs off 49 balls, featuring 5 fours and 4 sixes.
- Bhandari built a crucial partnership with Aarif Sheikh (39 off 37), who played the perfect supporting role.
- The winning runs came in style, with Harmeet Singh finishing the match with a six.
Binod Bhandari was rightfully named the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock and strong performance behind the stumps.
This victory marks the Royals’ fourth consecutive win, solidifying their position at the top of the NPL 2025 points table. The Lions, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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