Sudurpaschim Royals edged Kathmandu Gorkhas by seven runs in a thrilling Nepal Premier League (NPL) match on Friday, strengthening their bid for a place in the Qualifier.
After losing two of their first three matches, Sudurpaschim have bounced back with four successive victories.
The Royals have now beaten Kathmandu for the third consecutive season. Having completed all seven league matches, Sudurpaschim have moved to the top of the table with 10 points. However, their place in the Qualifier is not yet secured. Lumbini Lions have nine points from six matches, while Kathmandu have eight. Both teams could overtake Sudurpaschim and finish in the top two if they win their final matches. Friday's defeat was Kathmandu's second of the season.
Despite a 60 off 55 balls from captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Sudurpaschim managed only 125 for six in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. In reply, Kathmandu finished on 118 for seven.
Kathmandu sent Sam Heazlett and Bhim Sharki to open the innings, but the move did not pay off. Sharki was dismissed off the first ball by Scott Kuggeleijn, while Heazlett was run out for 11, dealing an early blow to Kathmandu.
Santosh Yadav made 10 off 19 balls, while Sahan Arachchige was dismissed without scoring.
Mohammad Aadil Alam once again disappointed, managing just eight runs off 24 balls. Dushan Hemantha scored 21 off 18 balls, hitting one four and a six, before being dismissed. Captain Karan KC also struggled, making just eight off 12 deliveries.
Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 35 off 31 balls, hitting five fours, while Jahandad Khan finished not out on seven.
For Sudurpaschim, Anil Kharel took two wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. Kuggeleijn conceded 15 runs in four overs and took one wicket, while Hemant Dhami and Fabian Allen also claimed a wicket each, conceding 25 and 32 runs respectively.
Earlier, player of the match Dipendra struck five fours and two sixes in his innings. With Kathmandu's bowlers once again making an explosive start, the Sudurpaschim captain produced a determined innings to help his side recover.
Kuggeleijn, primarily a bowling all-rounder, was promoted to open the batting. He struck a six off the first ball of the innings but was dismissed by Pakistani fast bowler Jahandad Khan on the fourth delivery, giving Kathmandu an early breakthrough.
In the second over, left-arm spinner Santosh Yadav had Brandon McMullen caught before bowling Ishan Pandey. Neither batter managed to score.
Jahandad struck again in the third over, trapping Binod Bhandari lbw for one. Sudurpaschim were reduced to eight for four, leaving them in serious trouble.
Dipendra then steadied the innings with a 54-run fifth-wicket partnership with Aarif Sheikh, who scored 16 off 25 balls, hitting one four, before being run out.
Dipendra followed that with another 54-run stand, this time for the sixth wicket with Tharindu Ratnayake. He was eventually dismissed by Jahandad in the 19th over.
Ratnayake remained unbeaten on 26 off 23 balls, including three fours, while Allen finished not out on two.
For Kathmandu, Jahandad was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 22 runs in four overs, including one maiden. Santosh Yadav claimed two wickets for 16 runs in three overs.
Binod Pandey is a sports reporter for the Kantipur Publications.
