Sudur Paschim Royals cruise past Lumbini Lions to go four from four
Sudur Paschim Royals maintained their flawless record in the 2025/26 Nepal Premier League with a dominant seven-wicket win over Lumbini Lions in the day fixture. Chasing a target of 144, the Royals got over the line in 18.2 overs thanks to a composed unbeaten 69 off 49 balls from Binod Bhandari, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round efforts that also included three catches behind the stumps.
Earlier, Lumbini Lions posted 143 from 19.4 overs, with Rohit Paudel top-scoring with 35 off 36 balls and Dilip Nath adding 31 from 29. Harmeet Singh (3/22) and Abinash Bohara (3/26) were among the most effective bowlers for the Royals, with Scott Kuggeleijn (1/28) and Hemant Dhami (2/28) chipping in with wickets at key moments.
In reply, Sudur Paschim Royals overcame early hiccups with Josh Brown and Chris Lynn departing cheaply, but Bhandari anchored the innings superbly, well supported by Aarif Sheikh (39 off 37). Their 99-run partnership sealed the game, taking the Royals to a perfect 4-0 record at the top of the table.
Lumbini Lions, meanwhile, slumped to their third loss in four games and now sit second from bottom in the standings.
Sumeet Verma stars as Pokhara Avengers sink Janakpur Bolts
In the evening clash, Pokhara Avengers finally got off the mark in the tournament with a much-needed 25-run win over Janakpur Bolts. Sumeet Verma led the charge with a superb all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 29 balls and picking up 2/19 with the ball to earn Player of the Match honours.
Pokhara posted 155/6 after electing to bat first, with key contributions from Dinesh Kharel (38 off 38), Adam Rossington (24 off 17), and Trit Raj Das (29 off 28). After a brief middle-overs collapse that saw them lose four wickets for just 3 runs, the Avengers recovered through a steady partnership between Trit Raj Das and Sumeet Verma, which helped them post a competitive total.
In reply, Janakpur Bolts crumbled under pressure, finishing on 130/8. Sanjay Krishnamurthi (25 off 20) and Wayne Parnell (50* off 38) fought back, but it wasn’t enough as Bipin Khatri starred with the ball, taking 4/15 in his four overs. Verma and James Neesham provided vital breakthroughs, while Pokhara’s fielding stayed sharp throughout.
This result gave Pokhara Avengers their first win in three matches, lifting them to third from last. Janakpur Bolts, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat and remain at the foot of the table.
With the league now entering a critical phase, Sudur Paschim Royals are firm contenders for the playoffs, while Pokhara will hope their campaign has finally found lift-off. The pressure is mounting on teams like Lumbini and Janakpur to reverse their slides before it’s too late.
