By Sachit Subba ⢠Cricket ⢠Nov 19, 2025 15:19 PM ⢠16 views
A sensational all-round performance by American international Harmeet Singh rescued the Sudurpaschim Royals from a top-order collapse. It propelled them to a thrilling 29-run victory over the Kathmandu Gurkhas on the third day of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). In a match that swung violently between the two sides, Singh was the difference-maker. Coming to the crease at number eight with his team in dire straits, he blasted a half-century before returning with the ball to dismantle the Kathmandu chase, handing the Gurkhas their first defeat of the tournament.
The Rescue Act
Earlier in the day, having been put into bat after losing the toss, Sudurpaschim endured a nightmare start. Kathmandu skipper Karan KC was lethal with the new ball, tearing through the Royals' top order.
Karan removed openers Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari for ducks in the very first over. When Australian marquee star Chris Lynn fell for just one run in the third overâcaught by Milind Kumar off Karan's bowlingâSudurpaschim was reeling. By the end of the powerplay, they had limped to 27/4, with Ishan Pandey also falling cheaply.
Captain Dipendra Singh Airee steadied the ship briefly with a gritty 39 off 30 balls, putting on a 25-run stand with Arif Sheikh. However, when Airee was dismissed in the 18th over with the score at 133, the Royals looked set for a below-par total.
Enter Harmeet Singh. The Indian-born USA cricketer unleashed a ferocious counter-attack, smashing 53 runs off just 20 deliveries. His innings, studded with two boundaries and six massive sixes, dragged Sudurpaschim to a competitive total of 147 all out in 20 overs.
For Kathmandu, Karan KC was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 wickets, while Milind Kumar, Sunny Patel, and Rashid Khan claimed two scalps apiece.
The Turning Point
Chasing a target of 148, the Kathmandu Gurkhas appeared to be cruising toward victory. At the halfway mark, they were well-placed at 93/4 after 10 overs, requiring just 6.5 runs per over with set batters at the crease.
However, the introduction of Harmeet Singh turned the game on its head.
In the 12th over, Singh delivered a double blow that derailed the Kathmandu chase entirely. He first dismissed the dangerous opener Akash Tripathi, who had top-scored with 34 runs. On the very next delivery, he sent Mohammad Adil Alam back to the pavilion for a golden duck.
From a comfortable 93/4, Kathmandu slumped to 96/6. The pressure continued to mount in the 15th over when Milind Kumar (11) was caught by Naren Saud off Scott Kuggeleijn, leaving the Gurkhas at 110/7.
The Collapse
The lower order crumbled under the pressure of the asking rate and disciplined bowling. Following Milind's wicket, Kathmandu lost their final three wickets for just eight runs, eventually being bowled out for 118 in 16.5 overs. Aside from Tripathi's 34, John Simpson chipped in with 24, and Bhim Sharki made 12, but no other batter could reach double figures. Singh finished with match-winning figures of 3 wickets, supported ably by Scott Kuggeleijn and Hemant Dhami, who took two wickets each.
What It Means
This victory marks a perfect start to the campaign for last season's runners-up, the Sudurpaschim Royals, in their opening match. For the Kathmandu Gurkhas, who had secured a dominant 5-wicket win over defending champions Janakpur Bolts in the opener, this serves as a reality check.
Up Next:
Sudurpaschim Royals vs. Pokhara Avengers (Friday)
Kathmandu Gorkhas vs. Biratnagar Kings (Saturday)
