By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 27, 2025 09:34 AM • 25 views
KIRTIPUR — The Sudurpaschim Royals solidified their status as the team to beat in the 2025 Nepal Premier League, dismantling the Lumbini Lions by seven wickets on Thursday to maintain their perfect record at the top of the table. In a match defined by a dramatic batting collapse and clinical bowling execution, the Royals restricted Lumbini to a below-par 143 before cruising to the target with 10 balls to spare. The victory leaves the Lions searching for answers after squandering a promising platform that could have set up a far more imposing contest.
Lions Lose Their Way
After being sent in to bat on a surface that offered decent carry, the Lumbini Lions started with intent but failed to sustain momentum. Opener D'Arcy Short looked dangerous early on, striking a brisk 18 off 11 balls to set a positive tone. However, his dismissal triggered a brief stutter before captain Rohit Paudel and Dilip Nath steadied the ship. Paudel (35 off 36) and Nath (31) combined for a vital partnership that briefly shifted the pressure back onto the Royals. At the halfway mark, with wickets in hand and the scoreboard ticking over, the Lions seemed poised for a total in excess of 160. The turning point came with the reintroduction of the Royals' spin and seam attack. In a catastrophic passage of play, Lumbini lost their bearings—and their wickets—in quick succession. From a comfortable position, the innings imploded as they lost their last seven wickets for just 39 runs.
Bohara and Singh, a Web
The architects of the Lions' downfall were Harmeet Singh and Abinash Bohara, who ripped through the middle and lower order. Singh's flight and guile proved too much for the Lions' batters, while Bohara's discipline at the death ensured there would be no late flourish. Both bowlers finished with figures of 3 wickets apiece, suffocating the scoring rate and bowling Lumbini out for 143 in 19.4 overs. Hemant Dhami chipped in with two crucial scalps, ensuring the pressure never lifted.
The Chase: Cool, Calm, Clinical
Chasing a modest 144 for victory, the Sudurpaschim Royals approached the target with the confidence of a side that has forgotten how to lose. Despite the early loss of a few wickets, the chase was never truly in jeopardy. The Royals' batting unit paced the innings perfectly, absorbing the threat of the new ball before accelerating in the middle overs. They reached 145/3 in 18.2 overs, sealing the game with a comfortable seven-wicket margin. The comprehensive nature of the win underscores the disparity in form between the two sides, with the Royals firing on all cylinders and the Lions struggling to string together a complete performance.
