Lumbini Lions roar past Rhinos in six-wicket win

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 21: Lumbini Lions opened their account in style, clinching a six-wicket win over Chitwan Rhinos to kick-start their campaign in the second season of the Nepal Premier League at TU Cricket Ground on Thursday.

An all-round show from Afghan star Gulbadin Naib and a composed knock from skipper Rohit Paudel guided Lumbini to their first points of the tournament. 

The Lions’ solitary win in the previous season had also come against the Chitwan Rhinos. With a winning start this time around, Lumbini will be keen to avoid the fate of being the first side knocked out of the league, as happened last year. Chitwan, however, could not continue their winning run after beating Karnali Yaks in their opener.

Put in to bat, Chitwan managed 142 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Lumbini chased down the target with 146 for 4 in 18.3 overs, finishing with nine balls to spare.

Openers Sundeep Jora (24 off 18, four boundaries) and D’Arcy Short (11 off 6) gave a brisk start, adding 24 for the first wicket. Despite losing two wickets in the powerplay, the Lions reached 51/2.

Captain Paudel anchored the innings with a patient 39 off 44 balls, striking only boundaries, and stitched a crucial 60-run stand with Naib for the fourth wicket. He fell in the 18th over, with victory all but sealed.

Naib unleashed a blistering cameo, smashing 44 not out off 24 deliveries, laced with three fours and three sixes. JJ Smit applied the finishing touch, cracking a boundary to seal the win.

For Chitwan, Rijan Dhakal picked up two wickets, while Sohail Tanvir claimed one. Earlier, Chitwan's top order faltered early, losing Dawid Malan for a duck in the second delivery and Deepak Bohara (10 off 12) in the fourth over.

Dev Khanal chipped in with 14 off 19 before falling in the eighth over, leaving Rhinos reeling at 43/3.

Veteran Ravi Bopara then steadied the ship with a fluent half-century, striking 66 off 55 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. 

He shared a 44-run stand with Kushal Malla (21 off 18) and later added 41 with Saif Zaib (15 off 7, two fours and a six). However, wickets at regular intervals meant Chitwan couldn’t accelerate at the death. For Lumbini, Ruben Trumpelmann was the pick of the bowlers, returning 3 for 23, while Abhishesh Gautam and Naib chipped in with two apiece.