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Lumbini Lions reached the final of the ongoing second edition of Nepal Premier League (NPL). 

Lumbini secured their place in the final, defeating Biratnagar Kings by 40 runs in qualifier 2 held on Thursday. 

They will take on Sudurpaschim Royals in the final match on Saturday. 

Invited to bat first after losing the toss at TU International Cricket Ground, Lumbini Lions made 134 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing eight wickets. 

Chasing the 135-run victory target, Biratnagar Kings made 94 runs in 17.4 overs at the loss of all wickets. 

For Biratnagar, Sam Heazlett scored the highest 34 runs and Naren Bhatta 21 runs.

In the bowling, Tilak Bhandari took three wickets, while Ruben Trumpelmann, Abhishesh Gautam and JJ Smit took two wickets each.

Earlier, batting first, Lumbini's D'Arcy Short top-scored with 45 runs off 41 balls while Rohit Kumar Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, Ruben Trumpelmann (not out) collected 34 runs, 29 runs and 11 runs respectively.

Biratnagar's Subash Bhandari and Pratish GC took three wickets each while Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets.

Paris St Germain played out their first goalless draw of the season at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday but stayed in the driving seat for direct qualification for the Champions League last-16 after a string of fine saves by home goalkeeper Unai Simon denied the defending champions, Reuters reported. 

Luis Enrique’s side had the clearest chances after being under pressure in the first half, but Simon produced several superb saves and Ousmane Dembele’s absence was once again felt up front by the visitors.

The result left PSG in third place in the 36-team league with 13 points from six games while Bilbao are 28th on five points, two points from the playoff places, according to Reuters. 

Noni Madueke scored two goals and Gabriel Martinelli netted another as Arsenal kept up their 100% run in the Champions League to stay top of the standings with a comfortable 3-0 triumph at Belgium’s Club Brugge on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

Arsenal’s sixth win in as many games all but confirms a top-eight finish, meaning they will skip the knockout phase playoffs in February and move straight into the round of 16 in March. Brugge remain on four points and in stark danger of missing out on the knockouts.

It was a satisfying night at the Jan Breydelstadion for the under-strength Gunners, who lost at Aston Villa at the weekend and made five changes to freshen up an injury-stricken squad, including a first run-out in almost a year for Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who got half an hour of action as a second-half substitute, according to Reuters. 

Nico O'Reilly's opportunistic strike and Erling Haaland's penalty helped Manchester City to fight back to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a tense Champions League contest at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

Rodrygo opened the scoring with a low shot from a counter in the 28th minute, with City looking exposed almost every time Madrid ventured forward for the first half an hour.

But Madrid pressed the self-destruct button, first when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois spilled a relatively easy header from Josko Gvardiol, with O’Reilly converting the rebound in the 35th minute, according to Reuters.