Skipper Rohit leads Lumbini Lions to their first NPL win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 11: Lumbini Lions played their first game of the Nepal Premier League, on December 4 against Biratnagar Kings. Debuting in the seventh match of the NPL, Lumbini posted the highest total: 191 runs. However, they could not defend it against Biratnagar, the team which was on a two-match losing streak then.

Lumbini again failed to defend the target of 171 runs against Pokhara Avenger on December 6; this time, they lost by 10 wickets. Skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel scored 46 runs and 95 runs against Biratnagar and Pokhara respectively.

The Lions struggled in the chase of 188 runs against Sudurpaschim Royals on December 7 and registered their third loss. Skipper Paudel had scored his lowest of the tournament against Sudurpaschim: 5 off 6. 

Paudel was also the highest scorer for Lumbini, with 35 off 38, on December 8 when the winless team played their fourth match against unbeaten Janakpur Bolts; he also bagged two wickets then. Lumbini had the chance to claim their first win in the NPL defeating Janakpur but, in the end, they lost by a run while chasing 137 runs. 

Lumbini had been one of the most trolled teams across social media after a series of losses and the streak was anticipated to continue against Chitwan Rhinos on December 10. 

Lumbini, however, ended their losing streak on Tuesday once again by posting a decent total and its captain delivering with all-around performance in a 33-run win over Chitwan Rhinos iat TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.  

Skipper Paudel added 80 off 57 to aid Lumbini to 167/6 in the first inning. He was partnered by Saad Bin Zafar, who added 52 off 35 before getting run out in the final delivery.

With his half-century knock Paudel cemented his place as the top run scorer in the NPL from 261 runs in five games; he is followed by Ravi Bopara with 169 runs in five games. 

The top order of Lumbini was destroyed by left-handed Rijan Dhakal as he bowled out Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Unmukt Chand; the two right-handers were left puzzled by Dhakal as he plucked the leg stump. And his skill garnered attention from one of the best players in history. 

India’s former left-handed pacer, Irfan Pathan, had commented ‘Brilliant’ in a video of Dhakal’s deliveries that bowled Ghiraiya and Chand out. It was also Dhakal’s delivery in which Paudel was caught out in 19.3 overs. Kushal Malla and Ranjit Kumar bagged one each for Chitwan. 

Lumbini’s bowlers could not defend higher totals in the last two instances. Yet, they got a good start against Chitwan, but it was captain Paudel who had to step up with the ball as well and picked four wickets today. Paudel, earlier, had three wickets in 11 overs he bowled in three innings of the last four games. 

Paudel’s first victim was Bipin Rawal, who was caught by Zafar in the second over. He then caught and bowled one-man-down Sohail Tanvir, in the fourth over. Then the dangerous Ravi Bopara (12 off 16) was caught out by Bibek Yadav when Paudel returned with the ball in the 12th over.

Paudel’s final victim was Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who has a T20I century against Nepal at the same venue (February 27, 2024). Eaton was struck leg before at a score of 6.

Ramon Simmonds bagged two wickets in Lumbini’s win while Abhishesh Gautam took care of Luc Benkenstien (31 off 29) and Zafar sent Kushal Malla (20 off 17) back to the pavilion as the eighth wicket in 16.1 overs. Dhakal and Nar Sarki stayed not out for Chitwan as the team could only reach 134/8 by the end of the second inning. 

Paudel’s 80 with the bat and 4/17 with the ball got him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. 

“I was longing to talk to you. The winning captain came here while the losing captain did not. I am happy with the win today. The team is looking forward,” skipper Paudel told commentator Andrew Leonard in the post-match ceremony. 

The last-positioned Lumbini has now climbed to the fifth position with two points outperforming Kathmandu, Pokhara and Biratnagar at net run rate. 

Karnali defeats Pokhara

Karnali Yaks have returned to the path of glory as they registered their third consecutive win in the NPL defeating Pokhara on Tuesday. Karnali had lost their first two games but have won the last three with which they have six points from three wins in five games.

Karnali registered one of the most comfortable wins when they defeated Pokhara with 7 wickets and 30 balls remaining. 

Pokhara had a good start with the bat as they lost their first wicket (Andries Gous-25 off 12) in the 3.5 overs when the team was at 46 runs, but their batting order deteriorated after that; skipper Kushal Bhurtel failed once again with the bat. They lost their eighth wicket in 15.1 overs leaving them at 94 runs. 

Pokhara could only add nine runs after that as they lost the last two wickets in the 17th over posting 103 runs on the board. William Bosisto conjured a magic with the ball as he claimed a six-wicket haul for Karnali; it would have been more but two catches were dropped in his final spell.

Bipin Sharma also continued his wicket-taking streak as he claimed one alongside Sompal Kami and Unish Thakuri. Bosisto and Sharma are the leading wicket-takers for Karnali with seven each. 

Nevertheless, Karnali did not have a good start with the bat as Dev Khanal was trapped for lbw in the third ball of the first inning bowled by Bipin Khatri. 

Khanal’s opening partner, Babar Hayat, showed promise with a six, but he too departed in the 4th over leaving Karnali at 14/2. 

Pokhara could not capitalise on the early wickets as they failed to break a decent third-wicket partnership between Chadwick Walton (34-ball 42) and Gulshan Jha (37-ball 49). Hayat and Walton were the victims of Sagar Dhakal and Kushal Bhurtel.

Jha stayed not out with Bosisto (2 off 6) as Karnali, in the loss of three wickets, chased 104 runs by the end of the 15th over. 

Karnali are now placed fourth in the points table with six points. Sudurpaschim Royals and Chitwan Rhinos are also with six points in the second and third positions respectively.

Janakpur, who sits at the top with eight points, will have to defend their unbeaten run against Sudurpaschim on Wednesday morning; the match will be followed by Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Biratnagar Kings.