Lumbini Lions bundle out Sudurpaschim Royals for 87 in NPL opener

KATHMANDU: Defending champions Lumbini Lions bundled out two-time runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals for a paltry 87 runs in 17.2 overs in the opening fixture of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 3 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kathmandu on Monday.

Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, Sudurpaschim made a poor start. Openers Binod Bhandari (9) and Saif Zaib (13) added 24 runs for the first wicket. After Bhandari’s dismissal in the fourth over, Sudurpaschim witnessed a batting collapse as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Aarif Sheikh fell for a duck, Brandon McMullen made two and Ishan Pandey contributed seven, while big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford (2) lasted just two balls.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee made a fighting 27 off 23 balls before he was bowled out by Kishor Mahato. Scott Kuggeleijn fell for a duck. The last wicket pair of Anil Kharel (12) and Abinash Bohara (3) added 17 runs for the 10th wicket.

Kishor Mahato claimed four wickets for Lumbini Lions, giving away 28 runs in his four-over spell. Sher Malla picked up three, conceding just 10 runs, while Shadley van Schalkwyk, Tilak Bhandari and Captain Rohit Paudel each took a wicket for Lumbini.