By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 24, 2025 14:07 PM • 16 views
KIRTIPUR — In a contest that tested grit over glamour, the Sudur Paschim Royals extended their unbeaten run in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025, defending a modest total to defeat the Karnali Yaks by 45 runs on Monday. The match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground became a tactical battleground, with the Royals' discipline overpowering the Yaks' batting lineup. Chasing a target of 140, Karnali crumbled under pressure, folding for just 94 runs in 19.2 overs.
The Battle of the Captains
The fixture was billed as a clash of leadership, and it delivered exactly that. Karnali Yaks skipper Sompal Kami drew first blood after winning the toss and electing to bowl. Kami produced a fiery opening spell, dismissing the dangerous Josh Brown for a golden duck with the very first ball of the match. He returned later to break a crucial partnership, finishing with standout figures of 3 for 32.
However, it was his counterpart, Dipendra Singh Airee, who had the final say. Walking in with his side teetering, the Sudur Paschim captain played a vital counter-attacking knock. His 39 runs off 28 balls — laced with one four and two sixes — were the difference between a sub-par score and a fighting total. Airee dragged the Royals to 139/9, a score that looked below average but proved insurmountable on a surface offering assistance to the bowlers.
Yaks' Chase Unravels
Karnali's response was disastrous from the outset. The top order, which had looked imperious in their previous nine-wicket win over Lumbini Lions, failed to fire. Priyank Panchal was dismissed without scoring, setting the tone for a chaotic innings. Mark Watt, fresh off a sensational century in the last game, tried to stabilise the innings with a brief 17, but he found no support from the other end. The Royals' bowling unit hunted in a pack, giving the Yaks no breathing room. Captain Airee backed up his batting heroics with a suffocating spell, effectively "turning the screws" on the opposition middle order. As the required run rate climbed, Karnali's batters panicked, losing wickets in clusters. From 81/7 in the 14th over, the tail offered little resistance, and the innings capitulated well short of the three-figure mark.
