Sudurpaschim Royals defeat Kathmandu Gurkhas by 73 runs

The Sudurpaschim Royals (SPR) defeated Kathmandu Gurkhas by 73 runs on Thursday.

Chasing down the 168-run target posted by the Sudurpaschim Royals, the Kathmandu Gurkhas (KAG) were bundled out with 94 runs in 15.5 overs in the match held at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.  

Stephen Eskinazi scored the highest 37 runs for the Kathmandu Gurkhas with one six and five boundaries in 33 balls. Sumit Maharjan made 14 while Bhim Sarki, Gerhard Erasmus made 10 runs each and Pratik Shrestha scored eight. Other batters failed to score in double digits.

For the Sudurpaschim Royals, Naren Saud took five wickets followed by two from Abinash Bohora and one each from Brandon McMullen and Saif Zaib.  With this, the Sudurpaschim Royals registered their second win in the Nepal Premier League.  Earlier, they had defeated the Biratnagar Kings by 90 runs.

Sent into batting first after losing the toss, Sudurpaschim scored 167 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets.

Brandon McMullen hit a half century for Sudurpaschim. He scored the highest 54 runs with the help of four sixes and three boundaries off 36 balls. Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee scored 42 runs including two sixes and three fours in 25 balls. Similarly, Binod Bhandari made 35 runs and Saif Zaib 11 runs.

For Kathmandu, Rashid Khan claimed two wickets. Gerhard Erasmus, Shahab Alamm and Captain Karan KC took one wicket each.

This is the second defeat faced by Kathmandu Gurkhas in the NPL so far. They had won one match out of three before this.