Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Defending champions Lumbini Lions climbed to the top of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) table with an eight-wicket drubbing of Pokhara Avengers at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
The win extended Lumbini’s unbeaten run in NPL 2026 to three matches. Pokhara, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat.
Bowling first, Lumbini bundled out Pokhara for a paltry 97/9 in 20 overs and chased down the target with eight wickets and 50 balls to spare.
Pokhara lost opener Arjun Kumal for a duck on the second ball of the innings. Sadeera Samawickrama (7), Bipin Acharya (1) and Shakib Al Hasan (3) also failed to contribute with the bat. Captain Kushal Bhurtel scored 14, while Arjun Gharti fell for six. Chamika Karunaratne offered some resistance with a 17-ball 25, while Kiran Thagunna scored 12 off six balls. Bipin Khatri and Aakash Chand remained unbeaten on six and one, respectively.
Ruben Trumpelmann picked up three wickets for Lumbini, while Tilak Bhandari claimed two. Rohit Paudel, Sher Malla and Abhishesh Gautam took a wicket each.
Chasing a modest target of 98, Lumbini lost openers Aasif Sheikh for seven and D’Arcy Short for 13. However, captain Rohit Paudel guided the team to victory with a 32-ball 47. Niroshan Dickwella contributed an unbeaten 27 off 26 balls.
Bipin Khatri took the only wicket for Pokhara.
