NPL opener: Sudurpashchim bowled out for 87 by lethal Lumbini bowling

Sudurpashchim Royals were bowled out for just 87 runs in the opening match of the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

Batting first after losing the toss at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Sudurpashchim lost all their wickets in 17.2 overs. Defending runners-up Lumbini Lions now need 88 runs to win.

Last season's runners-up Sudurpashchim got off to a weak start. The side lost their first wicket at 24 runs and had lost five wickets by the time they reached 53 runs in 8.2 overs. Pandey was out as the fifth wicket. By 10 overs, with the score at 58, seven batters had already returned to the pavilion. Airee and Dhami were also dismissed quickly.

Sherfane Rutherford, who came in after the fifth wicket fell, scored just 1 run off 4 balls before being caught by Asif Sheikh off the bowling of Sher Malla. Sudurpashchim's total was two runs more than the score they had posted in the final of the previous edition.

For Lumbini, Kishore Mahato took four wickets. Sher Malla took three wickets for 10 runs in three overs. Shadley van Schalkwyk, Tilak Raj Bhandari and Rohit Kumar Paudel each took one wicket.