Sudurpaschim Royals dominate Biratnagar Kings with a crushing 90-Run victory

Dhangadhi: Sudurpaschim Royals delivered a commanding performance in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), handing Biratnagar Kings a humiliating 90-run defeat in their second match on Tuesday.

Chasing an imposing target of 183 runs set by Sudurpaschim, Biratnagar managed to score only 92 runs in 16.1 overs, losing all their wickets. This marked the lowest score of the tournament so far, breaking the previous record of 111 runs scored by Kathmandu Gurkhas against Chitwan Rhinos.

The victory secured Sudurpaschim two points in their debut match, while Biratnagar faced back-to-back defeats, having previously lost to Janakpur Bolds by eight wickets. For Biratnagar, only Bashir Ahmed and Rajesh Pulami managed double-digit scores. Bashir top-scored with 24 runs off 28 balls, including two fours, while Rajesh contributed 15 runs off 15 balls, with one six.

Sudurpaschim's bowlers, particularly Abhinas Bohora and Scott Kuggeleijn, shone in the match. Both claimed three wickets each, with Abhinas conceding only 17 runs in three overs and Scott giving away 30 runs in his four-over spell. Brandon McMullan and Saif Zaib chipped in with one wicket each.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim set a record score of 182 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Captain Dipendra Singh Airey led the charge with a scintillating unbeaten half-century, scoring 57 runs. Brandon McMullan contributed a crucial 36 runs.

Despite a shaky start, with openers Amit Shrestha (1), Binod Bhandari (23), and Asif Sheikh (9) falling cheaply in the powerplay, Airey and McMullan's partnership steadied the innings. Biratnagar's Anil Kharel was their most effective bowler, claiming three wickets, while Chris Soul, Ismat Alam, and Bashir Ahmed took one wicket each.

The Royals' comprehensive win establishes them as a strong contender in the tournament, while Biratnagar must regroup to recover from their early setbacks.