Lumbini Lions produced a dominant bowling display to restrict Kathmandu Gorkhas to a modest 111 runs in 19.1 overs in the Nepal Premier League eliminator at the TU International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Having elected to bat first, Kathmandu struggled from the outset. Sher Malla struck with his very first delivery, removing Aakash Tripathi for one, triggering a steady flow of wickets. Malla finished with impressive figures of 3 for 22 from four overs, while captain Rohit Paudel matched him with 3 for 25. Ruben Trumpelmann added two wickets for just 10 runs, and Abhishesh Gautam claimed one.

Kathmandu’s innings never recovered from early setbacks. Sunny Patel hit a six but managed only seven before falling lbw to Trumpelmann, who then dismissed Ben Charlesworth for four. Milind Kumar was bowled for two, and Bhim Sarki’s 14 off 16 offered brief resistance before Paudel removed him and John Simpson in the same over.

A late cameo from Mohammad Adil Ansari—18 off 11 with two sixes and a four—helped Kathmandu cross 100, while Santosh Yadav top-scored with 23. Skipper Karan KC added nine.

The winner of the eliminator will face Biratnagar Kings in Qualifier 2 on Thursday, with a place in Saturday’s final against Sudurpaschim Royals at stake.