Lumbini Bowlers Run Riot as Royals Fold for 85

Lumbini Lions produced a dominant bowling display to dismiss Sudurpaschim Royals for just 85 runs in the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, on Saturday, December 13.

After winning the toss, Sudurpaschim opted to bat first. Their innings, however, never gained momentum as wickets fell regularly from the opening over, until they were bowled out in 19.1 overs.

Opener Ishan Pandey was the only batter to offer some resistance. The rest of the line-up failed to make meaningful contributions.

Opener Binod Bhandari was dismissed for a duck, caught by Dinesh Adhikari off Ruben Trumpelmann on the final ball of the first over. Trumpelmann struck again in the third over, trapping Sheldon Jackson lbw for 1. The Namibian pacer went on to finish with three wickets in 2.1 overs, conceding just three runs.

Aarif Sheikh followed soon after, scoring 6 off 6 balls before being dismissed lbw by spinner Sher Malla in the fifth over.

Royals skipper Dipendra Singh Airee attempted to steady the innings, but the situation deteriorated sharply in the 11th over when Lumbini captain Rohit Paudel claimed a hat-trick. Airee, who scored 13 off 20 balls, was caught by Trumpelmann, before Paudel removed Dipak Bohara and Puneet Mehra in successive deliveries.

The scorecard at the end of the 11th over read 44/6.

Harmeet Singh made 10 off 11 balls, while Scott Kuggeleijn scored 10 off 8. Abinash Bohara was the last batter to fall, scoring 1 off 3 balls. Hemant Dhami made 7 off 9 deliveries.

Paudel, Sher Malla and Trumpelmann picked up three wickets each. Sher Malla finished with an economy rate of 4.5, while Tilak Bhandari chipped in with one wicket.