Kathmandu: Kathmandu Gorkhas stopped Lumbini Lions’ unbeaten run with a 36 run win in the Nepal Premier League at the TU International Cricket Ground yesterday. It was the Lions’ first defeat of the season.
Batting first, the Gorkhas finished on 160 for 8. David Warner set the tone with 66 off 50 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. Sahil Patel gave him good support with 38 off 36. Sher Malla removed both, finishing with 2 for 19.
The middle overs were shaky for the Gorkhas, with wickets falling and two batters run out. Sahan Arachchige steadied things at the end. He smashed an unbeaten 34 off just 15 balls. Abhishesh Gautam (2 for 15) and Ruben Trumpelmann (2 for 24) were the pick of the Lions’ bowlers.
Chasing 161, Lumbini never found a rhythm. Niroshan Dickwella raced to 14 off seven balls, but D’Arcy Short managed only 4 and captain Rohit Paudel went for a duck.
Sundeep Jora kept the Lions in the hunt with 44 off 45 balls but he had little help. Gautam added 16 and Malla 12. Lumbini were bowled out for 124 in 19.3 overs.
Jahandad Khan led the Gorkhas’ attack with 4 for 23. Captain Karan KC took 2 for 24 and bowled a maiden. Shahab Alam, Santosh Yadav, Rashid Khan and Arachchige chipped in with a wicket each.
It was a complete team effort from the Gorkhas.
