Categories: News

Sudurpaschim Royals secures third consecutive win

Sudurpaschim Royals have claimed a third consecutive win of the tournament to climb top of the Nepal Premier League table in front of loud loyal supporter on Super Saturday.

On the other hand, Lumbini Lions are now languishing at the bottom of the table after three consecutive defeats.

The odds were heavily stacked against the Lumbini Lions when they faced the Royals. The only win for them turned out to be winning the toss and deciding to bowl first. The Royals raced to 47-0 in the Powerplay Skipper Rohit Paudel provided the first breakthrough when he had Binod Bhandari on 17. The wicket-keeper batter once again failed to capitalise on early starts. His scores in this tournament are 23,36,17.

Zaib survived a close lbw call from Rohit on 45 and he bought his first fifty with a scoop over the keeper’s head. Bibek Kumar Yadav got Brandon McMullen within a short ball which surprised the batter. The luck was all in Zaib’s side as he was dropped by Bibek at long on (a tough chance) and survived a run-out chance as keeper Arjun Saud missed an attempt on 68. The left-handed batter eventually fell 10 runs short of what would have been the second century of the season in NPL. Ramon Simmonds was pick of the bowlers with 2/32.

Royals hammered 71 runs in the final five overs – this is the highest number of runs any team has made in the final five overs in NPL. Royals finished with 187/4 – the second highest in the tournament so far while batting first.

Second innings: A tough run-chase

The Lions needed a solid opening partnership if they were to chase mammoth 188. Instead, they lost opener Arjun Saud first ball. It got even worse when Unmukt Chand was also trapped in front of the wicket on the last ball of the first over by New Zealand pacer Scott Kuggeleijn. Things didn’t stop there as Brandon McMullen picked up three wickets in six balls to sink the Lions further. The game looked gone when the Lions lost five wickets inside the first four overs. Sundeep Jora (20) and Bibek Yadav (71) stitched a 37-run partnership in the middle to prevent delay. Yadav stayed unbeaten on 77 off 51 with the help of 3 fours and 7 sixes.

Saif Zaib and Brandon McMullen picked up three wickets each whereas Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets. Abinash Bohra finished with 1/28. Lumbini Lions suffered their third straight loss in four days. They play Janakapur Bolts tomorrow in the opening game.

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Samraat Maharjan