Lumbini Lions Crush Pokhara by 8 Wickets – Top the Table
Kirtipur, Kathmandu — Defending champions Lumbini Lions reasserted their dominance in the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 3 on Tuesday night, delivering a one-sided display under the floodlights at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur to defeat the Pokhara Avengers by eight wickets with 50 deliveries to spare.
Restricting Pokhara to 97 for nine in 20 overs behind a Player of the Match performance from Namibian left-arm quick Ruben Trumpelmann (3 for 16), Rohit Kumar Paudel’s side overhauled the 98-run target in just 11.4 overs, moving clear atop the NPL standings with five points.
- Match: Pokhara Avengers vs Lumbini Lions (Match 13, NPL 2026)
- Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
- Pokhara Avengers: 97/9 in 20.0 overs (Chamika Karunaratne 25; Ruben Trumpelmann 3/16, Tilak Bhandari 2 wkts)
- Lumbini Lions: 98/2 in 11.4 overs (Rohit Paudel 47, Niroshan Dickwella 27)
- Result: Lumbini Lions won by 8 wickets (50 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match: Ruben Trumpelmann (3/16 in 4.0 overs)
Trumpelmann’s Early Spell Reduces Pokhara to 15/3
Opening the bowling under lights, Ruben Trumpelmann struck with the second ball of the innings, bowling Pokhara opener Arjun Kumal for a duck before dismissing Sri Lankan international Sadeera Samarawickrama to leave the Avengers in disarray at 15 for three.
Leg-spinner Tilak Bhandari claimed two wickets in the middle overs as Pokhara captain Kushal Bhurtel (14 off 20 balls) and Mahedi Hasan (13 off 24) found boundary hitting difficult against tight lines. Only a late counter-attack from Chamika Karunaratne (25 off 17 balls) pushed Pokhara to 97 for nine.
Captain Rohit Paudel (47*) and Dickwella Wrap Up Chase in 11.4 Overs
In response, Lumbini lost openers Aasif Sheikh and D’Arcy Short inside the first four overs, but captain Rohit Kumar Paudel swiftly extinguished any prospect of a fightback. Attacking the bowling with authority, Paudel struck an unbeaten 47 from 32 deliveries (three fours, three sixes), combining with Sri Lankan keeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella (27 not out) in an unbroken 73-run stand to reach 98 for two in 11.4 overs.
Commanding Net Run Rate at the Summit
Having chased 88 in 9.5 overs in their opener and 98 in 11.4 overs against Pokhara, Lumbini Lions lead the competition with five points and an imposing Net Run Rate advantage over the rest of the league.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was Pokhara Avengers’ total against Lumbini Lions?
Pokhara Avengers scored 97 for 9 in their 20 overs.
How many wickets did Ruben Trumpelmann take?
Ruben Trumpelmann took 3 wickets for 16 runs in four overs.
How many balls were remaining when Lumbini won?
Lumbini Lions won with 50 balls remaining in the 12th over.
Who is Lumbini Lions’ captain?
Nepal national cricket team captain Rohit Kumar Paudel captains Lumbini Lions.
