Kathmandu Fall Just Short of Target Despite Late Resistance, Handing Sudurpaschim Crucial NPL Victory

Riding on a brilliant captain’s knock by Dipendra Singh Airee and a disciplined bowling performance, the Sudurpaschim Royals edged past the Kathmandu Gorkhas by seven runs in a thrilling Nepal Premier League (NPL) match at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Friday, strengthening their bid for a coveted spot in the Qualifier. Having suffered defeats in two of their opening three fixtures of the season, Sudurpaschim staged a remarkable turnaround to secure their fourth successive victory, defeating Kathmandu for the third consecutive season and moving to the summit of the league table with 10 points from all seven of their completed matches. However, despite occupying the top spot, their qualification for the top two remains mathematically unconfirmed, as both Lumbini Lions—sitting on nine points from six matches—and Kathmandu, with eight points, retain the opportunity to overtake them by winning their respective final league encounters. Invited to bat first on a challenging pitch, the Royals found themselves in deep early trouble at eight for four within the opening three overs as Kathmandu’s bowlers wreaked havoc. Pakistani fast bowler Jahandad Khan struck twice early, dismissing opener Scott Kuggeleijn and trapping Binod Bhandari leg-before, while left-arm spinner Santosh Yadav removed Brandon McMullen and Ishan Pandey for ducks. Demonstrating immense composure under pressure, skipper Dipendra Singh Airee anchored the innings with a gritty 60 off 55 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. He first steadied the ship through a crucial 54-run fifth-wicket partnership with Aarif Sheikh, who contributed 16 runs, and followed it up with another vital 54-run stand for the sixth wicket alongside Tharindu Ratnayake, who remained unbeaten on 26. Supported by Fabian Allen’s late two runs, Sudurpaschim pushed their total to a modest 125 for six in their allotted 20 overs. Jahandad Khan was the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers, claiming three wickets for 22 runs in four overs including a maiden, while Santosh Yadav chipped in with two wickets for 16 runs. In response, Kathmandu’s chase got off to a disastrous start as Anil Kharel and Scott Kuggeleijn dismantled their top order, reducing them to early pressure from which they never fully recovered. Despite notable contributions from Dushan Hemantha, who scored 21, and an unbeaten 35 off 31 balls by Rashid Khan, Kathmandu managed only 118 for seven in their 20 overs, falling agonistically short by seven runs. Anil Kharel was exceptional with the ball for Sudurpaschim, bagging two wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs, while Kuggeleijn, Hemant Dhami, and Fabian Allen claimed a wicket each to seal a dramatic victory and keep their tournament ambitions firmly on track.