Royals Rise to the Top After Beating Avengers by 18 Runs

Sudurpaschim Royals beat Pokhara Avengers by 18 runs in the Nepal Premier League on Friday, November 21.

Chasing 194, the Avengers were held to 175 for 8 in 20 overs. Only skipper Kushal Bhurtel with 53 off 32, James Neesham with 47 off 25, and Dan Douthwaite with 37 off 16 reached double figures for Pokhara.

For Sudurpaschim, Harmeet Singh took two wickets for 22 from his four overs. Five of the six other bowlers used by the Royals claimed a wicket each.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Sudurpaschim posted 193. Opener Josh Brown struck a blistering 68 off 35 with five sixes and six fours. Fellow opener Binod Bhandari added 43 off 42.

Chris Lynn impressed on his NPL debut with 31 off 13, hitting two sixes and four fours.

Neesham took three wickets for the Avengers but conceded 47 runs in four overs. Aakash Chand and Dan Douthwaite took two wickets each.

Both teams were playing their second match of the season. The win lifted Sudurpaschim to the top of the table with four points. The Avengers remain seventh and without a point.

Two matches are scheduled for Saturday. The Karnali Yaks, bottom after one game, will face the Lumbini Lions, who sit third with two points, at 11:15 a.m.

Kathmandu Gorkhas, second on the table, will meet the Biratnagar Kings, currently fifth, in the second match at 4:00 p.m.