136/6 (19.1)
CR : 7.10
132/6 (20.0)
CR : 6.60
Lumbini Lions won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Rohit Paudel
2/1534(32)
LBL won by 4 wickets
7:07 PM IST, 7:22 PM Local Time: A six to finish off the game. Janakpur Bolts had their moments but Dilip Nath hit a six to seal the deal. Lumbini Lions win the game by four wickets and advance to the play-off stage of NPL 2025. Bolts, the defending champions, are now knocked out of NPL 2025 with one league game still left for them.
After choosing to bat first, the Bolts once again stumbled early. Although Maaz Sadaqat launched a six off the third delivery he faced, he edged JJ Smit behind soon after. Not long later, Rubin Trumpelmann dismissed Anil Shah for a low score, and Aasif Sheikh was sent back by Sher Malla. A brief revival came through Shubh Kansakar and Sangeeth Cooray, who added 19 runs before Malla struck again to remove Kansakar ahead of the innings’ midpoint. Cooray then forged a steadier 30-run stand with Sanjay Krishnamurthi.
However, Rohit Paudel halted their progress with a double strike in consecutive balls, removing both Krishnamurthi and Nicol Eaton-Loftie. At that stage, the Bolts looked in danger of folding before reaching three figures, but Cooray and Mayan Yadav steadied the innings with a cautious, unbeaten 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket. In the end, thanks to Cooray's 45* and Yadav's 27*, Bolts managed to post 132/6.
Paudel and Malla were the standout bowlers, each taking two wickets, while Smit and Trumpelmann claimed one apiece.
Bolts started their innings on a very poor note as they lost their opener, Sumit Maharjan, on the very first ball. However, after that, things got stabilised for them as D'Arcy Short and skipper Rohit Paudel added 61 runs for the second wicket.
Later, Short got out for 30. Then Mayan Yadav took the wickets of Paudel and Sundeep Jora on consecutive balls. Interestingly, he never got the chance to take a hat-trick as he never got to bowl his second over. Things got interesting when JJ Smit got dismissed and the score was at 121/6. Bolts had their chances but they dropped catches at crucial junctures. In the end, they won by four wickets with five balls remaining in the game.
Sangeeth Cooray picked up 3 scalps while Yadav, who bowled only one over, took two wickets.
Heartbreak for the defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, as their journey in NPL 2025 ends here. However, they will play their final league game on Sunday.
After choosing to bat first, the Bolts once again stumbled early. Although Maaz Sadaqat launched a six off the third delivery he faced, he edged JJ Smit behind soon after. Not long later, Rubin Trumpelmann dismissed Anil Shah for a low score, and Aasif Sheikh was sent back by Sher Malla. A brief revival came through Shubh Kansakar and Sangeeth Cooray, who added 19 runs before Malla struck again to remove Kansakar ahead of the innings’ midpoint. Cooray then forged a steadier 30-run stand with Sanjay Krishnamurthi.
However, Rohit Paudel halted their progress with a double strike in consecutive balls, removing both Krishnamurthi and Nicol Eaton-Loftie. At that stage, the Bolts looked in danger of folding before reaching three figures, but Cooray and Mayan Yadav steadied the innings with a cautious, unbeaten 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket. In the end, thanks to Cooray's 45* and Yadav's 27*, Bolts managed to post 132/6.
Paudel and Malla were the standout bowlers, each taking two wickets, while Smit and Trumpelmann claimed one apiece.
Bolts started their innings on a very poor note as they lost their opener, Sumit Maharjan, on the very first ball. However, after that, things got stabilised for them as D'Arcy Short and skipper Rohit Paudel added 61 runs for the second wicket.
Later, Short got out for 30. Then Mayan Yadav took the wickets of Paudel and Sundeep Jora on consecutive balls. Interestingly, he never got the chance to take a hat-trick as he never got to bowl his second over. Things got interesting when JJ Smit got dismissed and the score was at 121/6. Bolts had their chances but they dropped catches at crucial junctures. In the end, they won by four wickets with five balls remaining in the game.
Sangeeth Cooray picked up 3 scalps while Yadav, who bowled only one over, took two wickets.
Heartbreak for the defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, as their journey in NPL 2025 ends here. However, they will play their final league game on Sunday.
Time for post-match presentations...
Save of the Match: Ruben Trumpelmann
Catch of the Match: D'Arcy Short
Energetic Player of the Match: Mayan Yadav
Max Fours of the Match: Sangeeth Cooray
Player of the Match: Rohit Paudel
Rohit Paudel (Lumbini Lions Captain and POTM): "I could not have asked for a better game than this. The way we played this tournament has been good. There have been many ups and downs but it was God's plan that we ultimately qualify for the playoffs. My plan during batting was clear. I wanted to charge off spinners, while D'Arcy Short will attack the left-arm spinners. We go back to the drawing room and make our plans. In the last two games, they have been well executed and have worked for us. I am happy that my mother has come here. In the last game that she came to watch at the stadium, she became upset as I got out for a duck. But now she is happy."
That's it from our end on the coverage of this clash. Not only have the Lumbini Lions won this game, but they have also qualified for the playoffs of the NPL 2025. We have our four confirmed teams for the playoffs: Sudur Paschim Royals, Kathmandu Gorkhas, Biratnagar Kings, and the Lions. Do switch tabs to follow cricketing action from across the globe.
This is Arjun Bhalla, signing off on behalf of Mohammad Anab and Danish Elahi! See you around...
This is Arjun Bhalla, signing off on behalf of Mohammad Anab and Danish Elahi! See you around...