Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Lumbini Lions became the first team to be knocked out of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) playoffs race, conceding an 18-run defeat against Kathmandu Gurkhas at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Wednesday.
Chasing 103 runs scored by Kathmandu Gurkhas to stay in the competition, the Lumbini Lions folded for 85 runs in 19.2 overs. This was Lumbini’s fifth defeat in six games.
Earlier, Bhim Sharki scored 31 off 40 balls, and Dan Douthwaite 20 off 14 balls to take Kathmandu’s score above 100 runs in the slow wicket. Pratik Shrestha scored 20 off 14 balls, while Shephen Eskinazi hit 13 runs.
Other Kathmandu batters failed to reach double digits.
Saad Bin Zafar took three wickets for Lumbini, while Ramon Simmonds and Abhishesh Gautam claimed two wickets each, while Surya Tamang and Bibek had a wicket apiece.
Lumbini batters failed to put up a fight despite chasing a low score. Openers Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Arjun Saud were out for 4 and 3, respectively. Sandeep Jora top-scored for the Lions with a 29-ball 26, Surya Tamang contributed a not-out 11 and Unmukt Chand scored 14.
Captain Karan KC took four wickets for Kathmandu, while Dipesh Kandel claimed three, giving only three runs in his four-over spell. Gerhard Erasmus and Rashid Khan took two and one wicket, respectively.
Lumbini Lions will play its final match of the NPL against Karnali Yaks on Friday.
With the victory, Kathmandu has climbed to the fifth on the NPL table. With four points from as many matches, Kathmandu is in the playoff race.
