Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Sudurpashchim registered their third consecutive victory in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a 45-run win over Karnali Yaks at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Monday.
Batting first, Sudurpashchim recovered from a shaky start and posted 139 runs for the loss of nine wickets. In reply, Karnali was all out for 94 runs in 19.2 overs.
Sudurpashcim lost opener Josh Brown for a duck, and fellow opener Binod Bhandari fell for 11 in the fifth over with just 23 runs on the board. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee anchored the innings with a crucial 39 off 28 balls. Aarif Sheikh (27 off 25), Harmeet Singh (19), Chris Lynn (18) and Scott Kuggeleijn (10) also made valuable contributions with the bat.
Karnali skipper Sompal Kami led the bowling attack with 3 wickets, while Nandan Yadav took two. Mark Watt, Bipin Sharma, and Yuvraj Khantri claimed a wicket each to contain Sudurpashchim to a modest total.
In reply, Karnali never found momentum and were bowled out for 94. Sudurpashchim captain Airee produced a match-winning spell, taking four wickets. He had Binod Bhandari stump opener Priyank Panchal for his first wicket before trapping Mark Watt, who scored a magnificent century in his previous match, leg before, for his second wicket. He trapped Najibullah Zadran leg before for his third wicket before returning to remove dangerman Gulsan Jha for his fourth.
Pawan Sarraf top-scored for Karanli with a 27 off 26, while Watt scored 17, Kami contributed 14, and Jha and Arjun Gharti chipped in with 13 each.
Sudurpashchim’s bowlers backed Airee well, with Harmeet Singh and Abinash Bohara taking two wickets each, while Hemant Dhami grabbed one.
Tuesday’s Fixture:
Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Lumbini Lions
