By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 25, 2025 13:55 PM • 36 views
KIRTIPUR – In a contest defined by a dramatic shift in momentum, the Kathmandu Gorkhas secured a vital victory against the Lumbini Lions in the 11th match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 2 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Defending a target of 158, the Gorkhas' bowling unit strangled the Lions' chase, but the headline act belonged firmly to Kathmandu skipper Karan KC. His blistering, unbeaten 34 off just 11 balls in the death overs proved to be the difference between a below-par total and a match-winning one.
The Turning Point: Karan KC's Assault
Put into bat by Lumbini Lions captain Rohit Paudel, Kathmandu found themselves navigating choppy waters for most of their innings. The Lions' bowlers, led by Gulbadin Naib (3-20) and disciplined spells from Sher Malla and Paudel himself, had successfully kept the Gorkhas' scoring rate in check. Top-order anchor Aakash Tripathi composed a steady 32 off 36 balls, trying to hold the innings together after the early loss of Ben Charlesworth for a duck. However, the middle order failed to fire, and at 112/6 in the 17th over, the Gorkhas looked set for a modest total well below the 140-run mark. That changed in the 19th over. In a display of brute force, Karan KC dismantled Namibian pacer Ruben Trumpelmann, smashing four sixes and a four in an over that yielded 31 runs. The assault completely shifted the psychological balance of the match, propelling Kathmandu to a competitive 157/8.
Lumbini's Chase Falters
Chasing 158 under lights, the Lumbini Lions required a solid foundation, but the Gorkhas' attack—buoyed by their captain's finish—refused to offer any freebies. The Lions' batting lineup, which has been inconsistent this season, struggled to build partnerships. Opener D'Arcy Short showed glimpses of intent with a 22-run knock but failed to convert his start. The pressure mounted as wickets fell at regular intervals. Captain Rohit Paudel, the linchpin of the Lions' batting, was trapped lbw by Gerhard Erasmus for just 11 (16 balls), a dismissal that effectively broke the back of the chase. Dilip Nath offered some resistance in the middle order with a fighting 25, but he lacked support from the other end. The Gorkhas' bowlers, particularly Erasmus and Milind Kumar, utilised the conditions to perfection, taking pace off the ball and forcing errors. By the time the Lions reached 105/8 in the 17th over, the result was a foregone conclusion. The Lions eventually fell well short, finishing on 131/9 (provisional score), handing Kathmandu two valuable points.
Analyst's Take: The Value of Impact Innings
This match serves as a textbook example of T20 cricket's volatility. For 18 overs of the first innings, Lumbini Lions were the better side. They executed their plans, bowled to the field, and stifled the opposition. However, T20 matches are often decided by "micro-sessions," and Karan KC's 11-ball blitz was the defining micro-session of the day. Statistics will show Naib's three wickets or the collective bowling effort, but the analytical key was the momentum shift. A target of 130 is chasable with singles and twos; a target of 158 requires boundaries. By pushing the score out of reach, KC forced the Lions' batters to take high risks against a disciplined bowling attack, leading to their downfall.
What It Means
With this victory, Kathmandu Gorkhas move up the points table, stabilising their campaign after a mixed start. They now sit on 4 points, firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot. For the Lumbini Lions, it is back to the drawing board; their inability to close out innings with the ball and their lack of application with the bat remain concerns as the tournament progresses.
