In the second edition of the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket tournament, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions, the two teams that secured their first-ever playoff berths, are facing each other today in the Eliminator.
The match, which begins at 4 PM at the TU Cricket Ground, will decide which one of the two teams keeps its title hopes alive. Since this is a knockout fixture, the losing team will see its journey come to an end.
However, even the winning team will not directly enter the final. To reach the championship match, it must clear one more hurdle, the second qualifier.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Biratnagar Kings in the first qualifier to book their place in the final. The winner of today’s Eliminator will face Biratnagar Thursday.
Kathmandu have defeated Lumbini in both of their encounters so far. Kathmandu will aim to maintain that dominance, while Lumbini will be determined to win today and knock Kathmandu out of the title race.
Current form
Both teams have shown fluctuations in form during this edition of the NPL. Neither side has managed to maintain consistent momentum throughout the tournament.
Kathmandu began by defeating defending champions Janakpur Bolts in the opening match but then suffered two back-to-back losses. They bounced back strongly by winning the next four matches to secure a playoff spot. Despite finishing with 10 points, equal to Biratnagar Kings, they had to settle for third place due to an inferior net run rate, putting them in the Eliminator.
Kathmandu has appeared heavily dependent on their foreign players. English batters Ben Charlesworth and John Simpson have played particularly crucial roles. Gerhard Erasmus contributed moderately but is unavailable for the playoffs. Milind Kumar’s all-round performance has also been key for Kathmandu.
Since Kathmandu did not sign foreign bowlers, they must rely mainly on Nepali bowlers for their bowling attack. Part-time spinner Milind Kumar is the only overseas bowler in the squad. The Nepali bowlers will need to put in exceptional effort if the team is to reach the final.
Charlesworth earlier said that if the bowlers perform well, the team is capable of winning the title.
“Our bowlers are doing well, Shahab has been brilliant in this tournament. Their lengths are good, and they have been consistent,” he said. “We are executing our plans well, and we are hopeful of winning the title.”
Lumbini Lions, on the other hand, began with a win against Chitwan Rhinos but then suffered three consecutive defeats. Despite those setbacks, they made a remarkable comeback by winning their final three matches to secure a playoff spot.
In the middle of the tournament, Lumbini changed both their foreign players and team combination, a move that brought positive results.
Contrary to Kathmandu, Lumbini’s progress has been driven primarily by Nepali players. Both their batting and bowling charts are led by domestic players, supported by their overseas recruits. Captain Rohit Paudel is the tournament’s highest run-scorer, while Sher Malla leads the wicket tally.
With improvements in both batting and bowling, Lumbini, too, emerged as strong contenders for the title. Captain Rohit Paudel echoed similar confidence: “Other teams have looked good as well, but I feel we are slightly better,” he said after reaching the playoffs.
Head-to-Head
Kathmandu and Lumbini have faced each other twice across the two editions of the NPL, Kathmandu won on both occasions.
In their first meeting, a low-scoring thriller, Kathmandu defended 103 by bowling out Lumbini for 85 to claim an 18-run victory.
In the second edition, Kathmandu posted 157 in 20 overs and successfully defended the total by bowling out Lumbini for 135.
