Kathmandu Gurkhas boosted their playoff aspirations with an 18-run win over Lumbini Lions, who became the first team to be eliminated from the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament on Wednesday.

A fifth defeat in six matches leaves Lumbini in sixth position with two points but they are two points adrift of fifth placed Kathmandu, who have four points, meaning Lumbini will not enter the top four even if they win their final league match.

Kathmandu still have three games in hand.

Karan KC was the destroyer in chief at the TU Cricket Ground as the fast bowler pulled off a match-winning spell of 4-16, helping Kathmandu defend a low 104 total.

Lumbini were skittled for 85 in 19.2 overs, unable to withstand the relentless pressure from Kathmandu’s bowling attack.

Dipesh Kandel provided the early breakthroughs, finishing with stunning figures of 3-6 from four overs.

Kandel ripped through Lumbini’s top order, dismissing openers Ashutosh Ghiraiya (4) and Arjun Saud (3), as well as dangerman skipper Rohit Poudel (8) to leave the opponents floundering at 38-4.

Gerhard Erasmus (2-19) compounded Lumbini’s woes by removing Tom Moores (6) before Karan KC struck a decisive blow by sending back Unmuk Chand (14).

Erasmus then trapped Saad Bin Zafar (0) leg before wicket to deepen the collapse.

Sundeep Jora smashed 26 off 29 balls to offer brief resistance but KC returned to breath fire as he took out Bibek Yadav (2), Jora and Ramon Simmonds (0) to extinguish any hopes of a comeback for Lumbini.

Rashid Khan capped off a clinical performance by dismissing Abhishesh Gautam (0) to seal the win.

Earlier, Kathmandu opted to bat first but faltered against the Lumbini’s bowling attack as Bin Zafar (3-21), Gautam (2-16) and Simmonds (2-21) wreaked havoc to reduce Kathmandu to 23-4 in the powerplay.

Simmonds removed Michael Levitt in the first over, while Gautam sent back Stephen Eskinazi (13) and Erasmus (1) in quick succession. Bin Zafar then trapped Sumit Maharjan (4) lbw to put Kathmandu in trouble.

Bhim Sharki led the recovery with a determined 31 off 40 but wickets continued to tumble as Dan Douthwaite (21), Khan (1), KC (1) all fell cheaply.

Gautam ended Sharki’s resistance in the 18th over reducing Kathmandu to 88-8.

Pratik Shrestha’s late flurry of 14-ball 20 proved vital, dragging Kathmandu to 103.

Sudurpaschim climb to top

Sudurpaschim Royals soared to the summit of the Nepal Premier League table after an emphatic 72-run win over Janakpur Bolts gave them eight points from five matches.

Defending a modest target of 124, Sudurpaschim’s bowlers orchestrated a stunning collapse to fold Janakpur for a mere 51 runs—the lowest total in the tournament so far.

Harmeet Singh led the demolition of Janakpur with an exceptional spell, returning match figures of 2-2 from his four overs including two maidens.

Dipendra Singh Airee and Ishan Pandey also took two wickets each, while Saif Zaib, Naren Saud and Scott Kuggeleijn chipped in with one wicket apiece.

In the space of 12.1 overs Janakpur were all out, with Joshua Tromp’s 13 runs off 13 balls the sole double-digit contribution.

Zaib started the rout, removing Anil Sah for a duck in the second over. Airee then dismissed Aasif Sheikh (4), while Harsh Thaker (5) was run out shortly after.

Janakpur’s top order crumbled further as Pandey dispatched Lahiru Milantha (7) and Shubh Kansakar (0), reducing Janakpur to 28-5.

Airee added to the carnage by accounting for Neesham (4), while Singh trapped Tromp lbw and took the scalp of Arniko Yadav (1).

Saud and Kuggeleijn completed the onslaught, sending back Sher Malla (0) and Lalit Rajbanshi (4).

Earlier, Sudurpaschim also struggled with the bat after being sent in, managing only 123-9.

Kishore Mahato spearheaded Janakpur’s bowling attack claiming 4-35.

Malla and Yadav contributed two wickets each.

Sudurpaschim had a good start, with Zaib (21) and Binod Bhandari (33) adding 55 runs for the opening stand.

Thaker broke the stand in the 7.4 overs after having Zaib caught by Yadav.

However, Malla’s dismissal of key wickets of Singh (1) and Bhandari midway into the innings triggered a slowdown.

Airee (1) and Brandon McMullen (11) fell cheaply leaving the middle vulnerable.

Malla then devastated Sudurpaschim claiming the wickets of Aarif Sheikh (6), Pandey (17), Kuggeleijn (7) in the 18th over and cut off the tail by removing Saud in the 19th.

The outcome ended Janakpur’s unbeaten run in the league and delayed their hopes to qualify for playoffs with two matches at hand. Janakpur are tied with new leaders Sudurpaschim but dropped to second place due to lower net run rate.