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Lumbini Lions defeated Chitwan Rhinos by six wickets in their first match under Nepal Premier League on Thursday

Played at Kirtipur-based TU International Cricket Ground this afternoon, Lumbini Lions achieved the target of 143 runs posted by Chitwan Rhinos in 18.3 overs at the loss of four wickets. 

For the victory, Glubadin Naib made 44 runs (not out) and Captain Rohit Paudel made 39 runs. 

Rijan Dhakal of Chitwan Rhinos took two wickets while Sohail Tanvir one wicket.

Earlier, invited to bat first after losing the toss, Chitwan Rhinos made 142 runs in 20 overs losing seven wickets. The team had lost three wickets while collecting 43 runs. Captain Kushal Malla gathered 21 runs while Ravi Bopara 66 runs, Dev Khanal 14 runs, Deepak Bohara 10 runs, Saif Zaib 15 runs, Arjun Saud 15 runs (not out) and Sohail Tanvir  five runs.

Ruben Trumpelmann of Lumbini Lions took three wickets while Abhishesh Gautam and Glubadin Naib took two wickets each.

Paris St Germain's Achraf Hakimi was named African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards in Rabat on Wednesday, the first defender to claim the prize in 52 years as he finished ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen in the voting, Reuters reported.

Moroccan right back Hakimi was rewarded for a trophy-laden 2025 with PSG in which he claimed the Champions League, Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and UEFA Super Cup.

He is the first Moroccan to win the award since midfielder Mustapha Hadji in 1998, and the first defender since Zaire centre back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973, according to Reuters.

Lumbini Lions are playing against Chitwan Rhinos in the only match to be played today under the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament.

This will be the first match of the tournament for Lumbini, led by Rohit Poudel, who is also the captain of the National Men's Cricket team of the country.

Meanwhile, Chitwan Rhinos led by Kushal Malla is playing their second match.

In the first match, Chitwan defeated Karnali Yaks by four wickets to collect two points.

The day-night match is scheduled to start at 4 pm at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and will be played under floodlights, installed for the second season of NPL 2025.

A stunning bicycle kick and two stoppage-time goals sealed Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait. Austria needed a late equalizer to also make it back to soccer’s showcase event for the first time since 1998, while top-ranked Spain clinched its spot after equaling Italy’s 31-match unbeaten record in competitive games in Europe.

Belgium and Switzerland also secured their places for the 2026 World Cup as European qualifying finished Tuesday. Five automatic spots were still available in Europe. Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C, with Scott McTominay scoring a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into the match, sending the Hampden Park crowd into raptures.

A draw would have given Denmark the group win and the Danes were in good position after Patrick Dorgu equalized in the 82nd, but Kieran Tierney put the hosts ahead again three minutes into added time. Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line.

“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how this is the opportunity we’ve waited for. What a night, eh?” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “This was the chance, one game. This was like a playoff final. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step and it’s always the hardest.”

Denmark, which saw Rasmus Kristensen sent off in the 62nd, finished second in the group, two points behind Scotland. A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly, while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.