Sudurpaschim Royals claimed a convincing 29-run victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the fourth match of the Nepal Premier League 2025 at the TU International Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
A blistering all-round performance from Harmeet Singh, who smashed 53 off just 20 balls and later picked up two wickets, powered Royals to a competitive total before their bowlers dismantled Kathmandu's chase inside 17 overs.
Asked to bat first, Sudurpaschim had a shaky beginning, losing Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari inside the first over to Karan KC's fiery opening spell. Chris Lynn and Ishan Pandey soon followed, leaving the Royals struggling at 27 for 4 by the sixth over. Amid the collapse, skipper Dipendra Singh Airee held firm with a composed 39 off 30 balls, stabilising the innings through partnerships with Naren Saud and later with Harmeet Singh. But it was Harmeet who transformed the innings, producing a breathtaking assault that included six boundaries and two sixes. His 53 from 20 deliveries lifted Sudurpaschim from a modest position to a final total of 147 all out in 20 overs.
Karan KC was the standout bowler for Kathmandu, finishing with figures of 4 for 30, while Rashid Khan and Sunny Patel added two wickets each.
In reply, Kathmandu Gorkhas began confidently, with Aakash Tripathi and Ben Charlesworth pushing the score to 18 before Charlesworth fell in the second over. Tripathi played a steady hand with 34 off 30 balls, but constant wicket-taking at the other end kept Kathmandu under pressure. Bhim Sharki, Santosh Yadav, and Mohammad Aadil Alam all departed cheaply as Harmeet Singh and Scott Kuggeleijn struck at crucial moments. John Simpson attempted to revive the innings with a brisk 24 from 18 balls, yet his dismissal at 88 for 4 triggered a dramatic collapse. Kathmandu lost their final six wickets for just 30 runs, folding for 118 in 16.5 overs. Kuggeleijn delivered an impactful spell of 2 for 18, while DS Airee, Hemant Dhami, and Harmeet Singh combined effectively to maintain relentless pressure.
With a standout all-round display, Harmeet Singh deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award, guiding Sudurpaschim to an important early win in the tournament.
