Lumbini Lions Restrict Sudurpaschim Royals to 87 in NPL Season Opener

The third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) commenced on Monday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with defending champions Lumbini Lions putting on a dominant bowling display against the Sudurpaschim Royals in the tournament opener.

After winning the toss, Lumbini captain Rohit Kumar Paudel elected to field first. The decision paid immediate dividends as the bowling attack dismantled the Sudurpaschim batting lineup, restricting them to just 87 runs before they were bowled out in 17.2 overs.

Kishore Mahato spearheaded the Lumbini bowling performance, delivering four wickets while conceding 28 runs across his four overs. Off-spinner Sher Malla provided exceptional support by claiming three wickets while giving up only 10 runs in three overs.

Sudurpaschim struggled heavily during the powerplay, losing four early wickets from which they never managed to recover. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee managed to top-score for his side with 27 runs off 23 deliveries, which included two fours. Opener Saif Zaib added 13 runs from 14 balls, while the remainder of the batting order failed to produce significant scores.

The match also featured a historic moment for the tournament as Sudurpaschim overseas player Scott Kuggeleijn became the first player in NPL history to be dismissed via the Decision Review System (DRS). He was given out leg before wicket off the bowling of Malla in the ninth over.

Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal, the month-long tournament runs until November 21 and features eight franchise teams competing for a heightened prize pool, with the champions slated to receive 15 million rupees. The competition has also seen expanded commercial backing and international recognition from the International Cricket Council ahead of this season.