Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Lumbini Lions by 7 wickets in the first match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket on Thursday, thanks to excellent batting from Binod Bhandari and Arif Sheikh.

Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airi won the toss and elected to bat at the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Stadium in Kirtipur. Lumbini was all out for 143 runs in the stipulated 19.4 overs. The team had scored 39 runs in 33 balls and lost the last 8 wickets.

This is Sudurpaschim's fourth consecutive win. This win has further strengthened the team's chances of reaching the playoffs. Lumbini has lost 3 out of 4 matches. After defeating Chitwan Rhinos in the first match, Lumbini has lost three matches in a row. Lumbini had lost to Karnali Yaks and Kathmandu Gorkhaz in the previous matches.

After Vinod and Arif put on a 99-run partnership for the third wicket, Sudurpaschim achieved the target 10 balls ahead. Arif was out for 39 runs when Sudurpaschim needed 6 runs to win. He hit 4 fours and 1 six in 37 balls. He was dismissed by Tilak Bhandari.

Vinod remained unbeaten on 69 runs. He hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in 49 balls. Harmit Singh remained unbeaten on 3 runs. He hit the winning six.

Opener Josh Brown was out for 9 runs after hitting 2 fours. He was dismissed by Abhishek Gautam. Chris Lynn, who hit two consecutive sixes, was dismissed by Ruben Trumpelman on the next ball.

Earlier, Lumbini, who scored 50 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in the first 6 overs of the power play, reached the position of 70-2 in 10 overs. After that, the team could not increase the run rate.

D'RC shot hit 3 fours to Scott Kugglen in the first over. In the second over, Sumit Maharjan, who was sent as the opener, hit 2 fours to Dipendra. After that, the team had to wander for a big shot. The team could only hit 1 six in the entire innings.

Shot scored 18 runs off 11 balls, hitting 4 fours, and was bowled for inside edge off Hemant Dhami. Sumit scored 18 runs off 14 balls, including 3 fours. Captain Rohit Poudel scored the highest with 35 runs.

Rohit, who was given a lifeline after Naren Saud dropped a catch off Avinash Bohra on 29 runs, could not take advantage of it. After adding 6 runs, he was caught by wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari while trying to reverse sweep off Hemant Dhami. Rohit hit 3 fours off 36 balls.

Gulbadin Naib was out for 11 off 9 balls, hitting 2 fours, and Trumpelman was out for a duck on 3 balls. He was run out by Dipendra on a straight throw. Dilip Nath was the third player to be out in this over of Avinash Bohra. Before being out LBW, he scored 31 runs off 29 balls, hitting 2 fours and 1 six.