Lumbini Lions posted a fighting total of 134/8 in their 20 overs in Qualifier 2 against Biratnagar Kings at Kirtipur.
After being sent into bat, they made a cautious start on a surface offering grip and bounce, losing Dinesh Adhikari for 1 with the score on eight in the second over. From there, D'Arcy Short and skipper Rohit Paudel steadied the innings, putting on a crucial 69-run stand for the second wicket.
Short top-scored with a measured 45 off 41 balls (3 fours, 1 six), while Paudel added a busy 34 off 30 with 2 fours and 2 sixes to lift Lumbini to a healthy position at 77/2 in 11.2 overs.
The Lions, however, could not fully capitalise on that platform. Once Paudel fell, Short followed soon after, and the middle order had to graft hard against disciplined bowling. Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with an enterprising 29 off 22 (4 fours), but wickets at regular intervals meant Lumbini slipped from 90/3 in the 14th over to 115/7 by 17.5 overs. A brief late cameo from *Ruben Trumpelmann (11 off 8)**, along with Sher Malla’s 7 off 7 and Abhishesh Gautam’s unbeaten 2, nudged the total past 130, leaving the Lions with something to bowl at in a high-pressure knockout.
Biratnagar’s attack, led by their seamers and backed by spin, ensured Lumbini never broke free entirely. Subash Bhandari was outstanding through the middle overs, returning figures of 3/14 from 4 overs, while Pratis GC struck vital blows at the back end with 3/27 in his 4. Tournament spearhead Sandeep Lamichhane once again delivered in the crunch, using his variations smartly to claim 2/18 from 4 overs, tightening the screws whenever Lumbini looked to accelerate. Their combined effort restricted the Lions to 134/8, setting Biratnagar a target of 135 in a chase that will decide who joins Sudurpaschim Royals in the NPL Season 2 final.
