Sudurpaschim Royals, Karnali Yaks defend targets on Day 7

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 8: Sudurpaschim Royals and Karnali Yaks emerged victorious by 45 runs and 7 runs on Day 7 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) after defending their total against Lumbini Lions and Biratnagar Kings respectively.

Lumbini and Biratnagar had elected to field first at a pack TU International Cricket Ground but failed to chase the target set by their opponents.

It was a third consecutive win for Sudurpaschim after which they have climbed to the top of the table with six points. On the other hand, it was the third consecutive loss for Lumbini and they are at the bottom of the table.

In the first game of Day 7, Sudurpaschim posted 187 runs on the board in the loss of four wickets. Opener Saif Zaib was the most influential batter for Sudur as he contributed 90 off 61 (6 fours, 5 sixes) before departing in 17.4 overs as the third wicket.

Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee (39 off 19) stayed not out with Scoot Kuggeleijn (11 off 6) to take the team to 187. Ramon Simmonds bagged two wickets while Rohit Kumar Paudel and Bibek Yadav took one each for Lumbini.

Lumbini’s chance for a win washed away quite early in the second inning. In 3.3 overs, Lumbini was at 19/5 as they had lost Arjun Saud, Unmukt Chand, Rohit Paudel, Tom Moores and Saad Bin Zafar for single figures; Arjun and Saad departed for a golden duck.

Bibek Yadav put up a fight in the middle, but his 77 off 54 could not help the team despite staying not out until 20 overs. Sundeep Jora (20 off 26) and Dinesh Adhikari (14 off 16) were the only others to score in double digits while Lumbini was restricted to 142/9.

On the other hand, the two legends – Shikhar Dhawan and Martin Guptill – could not perform well with their bat when Karnali and Biratnagar faced each other.

While Dhawan added 5 off 5 for Karnali, Guptil departed for 4 off 4 for Biratnagar. 

Karnali was all out for 133 by the end of 20 overs, a result of four wickets falling in the last over by Pratish GC, for 133 runs. Dev Khanal (53 off 48) and William Bosisto (66 off 49), with a 100+ partnership, were the crucial ones for Karnali. 

Pratish bagged four wickets in total while Chris Sole and Basir Ahamad took two each; Aqib Ilyas also claimed one.

Biratnagar was expected to chase the low total as they had chased 192 against Lumbini. But the 16-year-old teenager Bipin Sharma of Karnali turned the tides.

Sharma took the wickets of Biratnagar openers; bowled out Lokesh Bam and Guptill was caught out after an edge. Nandan Yadav was the other major star for Karnali as his yorkers devastated Biratnagar’s batting lineup.

Nandan bagged three wickets while Sompal Kami, Bosisto and Unish Thakuri took one each while Nicholas Kirton, the batsman who failed in the last two games for Biratnagar, was the highest scorer on Saturday with 40 off 39.