Kirtipur: The Sudur Paschim Royals (SPR) won today’s second match held under the Nepal Premier League (NPL) underway at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Chasing down the 168-run target posted by the SPR, the Kathmandu Gurkhas (KAG) were all out with 94 runs in 15.5 overs.
According to National News Agency Nepal, KAG’s Stephen Eskinazi scored the highest 37 for the team, including one six and five boundaries off 33 balls. Sumit Maharjan contributed 14 runs, while Bhim Sarki and Gerhard Erasmus made 10 runs each. Pratik Shrestha added eight runs. Michael Levitt scored five, Shankar Rana made three, Rashid Khan scored two, and captain Karan KC, Nathan Sowter, and Shahab Alam each scored one run. The team also received two extra runs.
For the SPR, Naren Saud was the standout bowler, taking five wickets. Abinash Bohora took two wickets, while Brandon McMullen and Saif Zaib claimed one wicket each. This victory marked SPR’s second win in the NPL, having previously defeated the Biratnagar
Kings by 90 runs.
Sudur Paschim Royals, sent to bat first after losing the toss, scored 167 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets. Brandon McMullen led the charge with a half-century, scoring 54 runs with four sixes and three boundaries off 36 balls. Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 42 runs, including two sixes and three fours in 25 balls. Binod Bhandari made 35 runs, Saif Zaib scored 11 runs, Rohan Mustafa four runs, and Aarif Sheikh three runs. Scott Kuggeleijn contributed seven runs, not out, while Ishan Pandey added one run. The team benefitted from 10 extra runs.
For the Kathmandu Gurkhas, Rashid Khan took the highest two wickets. Gerhard Erasmus, Shahab Alam, and Captain Karan KC each secured one wicket. This defeat marked the second loss for Kathmandu Gurkhas in the NPL, having won one out of three matches before this.