Lions Roar Past Gorkhas in Low-Scoring Thriller to Book Qualifier 2 Spot
KIRTIPUR: In a match where staying calm mattered more than flashy play, the Lumbini Lions kept their Nepal Premier League title hopes alive with a hard-fought four-wicket win over the Kathmandu Gorkhas in Wednesday’s Eliminator. Playing at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, the Lions’ bowlers set the stage by bowling out the Gorkhas for just 111. Despite a shaky middle order, Lumbini chased down the target with 14 balls left.
The victory propels Rohit Paudel’s side into Qualifier 2. With this win, Rohit Paudel’s team moves on to Qualifier 2, where they will play the Biratnagar Kings for a spot in the final. The playoff format is simple: lose the Eliminator, and you’re out; win two games, and you’re champions. For Kathmandu, a promising season ends in disappointment after their batting collapsed at the crucial moment. First in a knockout game is a common move, but it went badly for Kathmandu. Their top order struggled, falling to 14 for four in the first five overs— their worst powerplay of the season, with 65% of balls not scored off. Ruben Trumpelmann bowled fast and accurately, hitting the middle stump with a yorker and putting Kathmandu in trouble early. Sher Malla also bowled well, taking three important wickets for just 22 runs. The anchor, who fell cheaply for 4, his departure triggered a panic that rippled through the dugout. By the time wicketkeeper John Simpson (18) and Bhim Sharki (14) tried to drop anchor, the damage was already profound.
**The Lower-Order Fightback**
Kathmandu’s lower order showed determination when the team was close to being bowled out for a very low score. Santosh Yadav and Aadil Ansari stepped up as unexpected heroes. Yadav scored a quick 23 from 17 balls, hitting several boundaries to deep mid-wicket. Ansari added 18 runs, helping push the total to 111 before the team was all out in 19.1 overs.
Still, a target of 112 is usually not hard for the team batting second unless the pitch is very difficult. The ball sometimes gripped and dust came up from the surface, so batters had to be careful, but the pitch was not impossible to play on.
**Short Anchors the Chase**
Lumbini started their chase with purpose, led by Australian veteran D’Arcy Short. He wasn’t as aggressive as usual, but his steady 33 from 34 balls gave the team the stability they needed. He handled the pressure after early wickets, including Dinesh Adhikari (4) and captain Rohit Paudel (18), and kept the required run rate manageable.s, Kathmandu’s bowlers kept fighting. Santosh Yadav, after his good batting, bowled well and took 2 for 17, dismissing Sundeep Jora (23) and Dilip Nath quickly to create a late scare. When the Lions reached 106 for 6, their chances of winning dropped to 68%. With only six runs left to get, the tension in Kirtipur was high. The drama was on, but the tense moment did not last long. Ruben Trumpelmann, who had already hurt Kathmandu’s chances with his bowling, finished the match with the bat by hitting the winning boundary in the 18th over. It was a victory built on bowling partnerships. Lumbini's ability to take wickets in clusters, specifically the top-order blitz, effectively killed the contest before the halfway mark. For Kathmandu, the post-mortem will focus heavily on their batting application. Given teams' tendency to crumble in powerplays, it raises an important question: Why is it so challenging to maintain composure during these early stages of the game? Exploring this dilemma could yield deeper insights into future strategic improvements.
The Lions now move on to play Biratnagar with confidence. They have shown they can win tough matches, which is often more important in playoffs than scoring big runs. The path to the trophy is still challenging, but the Lions are ready. Can their determined style beat Biratnagar? Fans are eager to see what happens next.
