Lumbini All Stars defeated Kathmandu Knights by 35 runs to maintain their perfect record in the Nepal T20 League at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Friday.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee scored 40 runs off 27 balls to guide Lumbini to 150/8 following a dismal performance by the top order.

Opener Sunil Dhamala was out cheaply for three and Kushal Bhurtel scored 19 runs.

Sri Lankan wicket keeper batter Liharu Milantha departed after scoring 25 runs and Ireland star Harry Tector flopped in his first game, dismissed for seven.

At one point, Lumbini were reeling at 92/5 but the captain defied the Kathmandu bowling attack in a knock that featured three boundaries and one six to rescue his team.

Afghanistan allrounder Azmatuallah Omarzai took 2-12 for Kathmandu. Abinash Bohara, Anil Kharel, Basir Ahamad, Sunam Gautam and Englishman Alex Blake picked up a wicket apiece.

In reply, the Kathmandu batting crumbled against the spin of Harmit Singh. The Indian returned figures of 3 for 7 to subdue Kathmandu, who lost Malaysian Virandeep Singh, Lokesh Bam and captain Gyanendra Malla for nought.

Zimbabwe’s Ryal Burl and Blake soon fell as Kathmandu were in deep trouble at 22/5.

Omarzai offered some hope with a score of 38 after Gautam added 18 to keep the hunt alive. Ahamad chipped in with 10 and Kamal Airee scored 19 not out, but Kathmandu managed only 115/8.

The Friday outcome gives Lumbini five wins out of five and also cements their position at the top with 10 points.

Kathmandu are third with four points after two wins and two losses, but have played a game less.

In the other action of the day, Pokhara completed the tournament’s record run chase to overcome Far West by three wickets to register their first win of the tournament.

Far West, who had elected to bat first, posted a good total of 187/9 after Rashid Khan’s late heroics. Opener Dev Khanal hit 33 runs off 31 balls and United Arab Emirates’ batter Umair Ali top scored with 42 for Far West.

Captain and Afghanistan batter Hashmatullah Shahidi (4), Bhim Sharki (17), Binod Bhandari (11) and Harishankar Shah (5) departed without making significant contributions.

But Khan cracked two fours and two sixes in his 15-ball 32 to guide Far West to a good total.

In reply, the Pokhara openers Sumit Maharjan and Aasif Sheikh made a solid start to their innings, sharing a 65-run opening stand. Maharjan scored 38 and Aasif hit 45.

Kushal Malla then added 40 off 22 balls and Siddhant Lohani contributed 23 as Pokhara posted 188/7 in 19.1 overs.

Karan KC, Ali and Prakash Jaishi took the wickets for Far West.

The win sent Pokhara up to the second place on net run rate. Far West are trailing at the bottom with two points.