With a strong bowling performance, Lumbini Lions defeated Biratnagar Kings by 40 runs to secure a place in the final against Sudurpaschim.
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Lumbini Lions have reached the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket with a strong bowling performance. Lumbini defeated Biratnagar Kings by 40 runs in Qualifier 2 at the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Ground, Kirtipur on Thursday.
Lumbini, who were invited to bat after winning the toss, could only score 134 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. In reply, Biratnagar was bowled out for 94 runs in 17.5 overs after Tilak Raj Bhandari took 3 wickets. This is the second consecutive match in which Biratnagar was bowled out for less than 100 runs.
Lumbini will face Sudurpaschim Royals in the final on Saturday. Lumbini has secured a title clash by winning its fifth consecutive match. Lumbini defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by 4 wickets in the Eliminator, while Biratnagar lost to Sudurpaschim by 77 runs in Qualifier 1.
Leg-break bowler Tilak took 3 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs. Abhishesh Gautam and Namibian pair Ruben Trumpelman and JJ Smit took 2 wickets and Sher Malla took 1 wicket. Abhishesh scored 22 runs in 4 overs, Trumpelman scored 9 runs in 3 overs and Smit scored 15 runs in 2.5 overs.
Batting-heavy Biratnagar lost three crucial wickets after scoring six runs. Trumpman dismissed Martin Guptill for two and Lokesh Bam for zero in consecutive balls. In the next over, Sher bowled Faf du Plessis for three runs.
Shankar Rana was dismissed for seven runs. Sam Hazlett top-scored for Biratnagar with 34 runs. He hit two fours and a six in 28 balls. Merchant de Lange was dismissed for 17, Bashir Ahmed and captain Sandeep Lamichhane were dismissed for three each, and Pratish GC was dismissed for two runs.
Naren Bhatt was the last player to be dismissed. He scored 21 runs in 21 balls, including one four and two sixes.
Earlier, captain Rohit Poudel and D'RC Shott shared a half-century partnership, but Lumbini could not post a big score. After Dinesh Adhikari was dismissed for one run in the second over, Rohit and Shott had a 69-run partnership for the second wicket in 54 balls. Rohit scored 30 runs in 30 balls, hitting 2 fours and a six, before being bowled by Subash Bhandari.
Subash, who bowled brilliantly, was bowled by Shot. Shot scored the highest 45 runs in 41 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six. Biratnagar returned to the game by dismissing Sandeep Jora and Smith for zero and Dilip Nath for 1 run. Sher was dismissed for 7 runs in 7 balls. Trumpelman remained unbeaten on 11 and Abhishesh for 2 runs.
Subash and Pratish took 3 wickets each from Biratnagar. Subash, who took the first 3 wickets, proved his decision to return to the team by spending only 14 runs in 4 overs. Pratish spent 27 runs in 4 overs. Sandeep took 2 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs.
