Lumbini climb to top after eight-wicket win over Pokhara in NPL
Lumbini Lions chased down Pokhara Avengers' 97 for nine with 50 balls to spare at Kirtipur, with captain Rohit Paudel leading the chase, to move to the top of the Nepal Premier League table.
Published November 3, 2026 8:05 pm GMT+0545
Lumbini Lions moved to the top of the Nepal Premier League table after beating Pokhara Avengers by eight wickets at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday. Chasing 98 to win, Lumbini reached 98 for two in 11.4 overs, finishing the match with 50 balls to spare.
Pokhara, who were put in to bat after Lumbini won the toss and chose to field, made 97 for nine in their 20 overs. Chamika Karunaratne top scored with 25, while captain Kushal Bhurtel made 14. Ruben Trumpelmann was the most successful Lumbini bowler with three wickets, and Tilak Bhandari took two.
Lumbini captain Rohit Paudel led the chase with 47 from 32 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Niroshan Dickwella finished unbeaten on 27 from 26 balls, and the pair shared an unbeaten 77-run partnership that took Lumbini to victory with 50 balls to spare.
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Before this match, Lumbini had played two games, winning one and sharing the points in a rain-affected game. Pokhara had lost both of their previous games and were looking for their first win of the season. The result gave Lumbini their second win and took them to the top of the table, while Pokhara remain without a win after three matches.
The comfortable margin, and the number of balls left when the winning runs were scored, showed how controlled Lumbini's chase was. It leaves Lumbini in a strong position at this early stage of the season, while Pokhara must now find a first win to revive their campaign.
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