Captain Rohit Paudel’s hat-trick set up a dominant bowling performance as Lumbini Lions skittled Sudurpaschim Royals for a paltry 85 in the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur, on Saturday.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sudurpaschim collapsed to 85 all out in 19.1 overs, failing to cross the 100-run mark for the first time in the tournament.

Rohit struck in the 11th over, removing Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Deepak Bohara and Puneet Mehra off successive deliveries to register the second hat-trick of this NPL season. Airee scored 13 off 20 balls, while Bohara and Mehra were dismissed for first-ball ducks.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim’s troubles began in the opening over when Binod Bhandari was dismissed for a duck. Namibian fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann then removed Sheldon Jackson lbw for one in his next over, further tightening Lumbini’s grip on the final.

Aarif Sheikh fell for six to Sher Malla, before Rohit’s hat-trick pushed Sudurpaschim into deeper trouble. Harmeet Singh struck a six on his way to 10 before becoming Sher’s second victim.

One opener battled on to score 33 off 51 balls with a boundary before falling in the 17th over, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Scott Kuggeleijn made 10 off eight balls, while Abinash Bohara managed just one. Hemant Dhami remained unbeaten on seven, hitting a six off his nine deliveries.

Sher finished with three wickets, taking his tournament tally to 17 to share the top spot on the leading wicket-takers’ list with Biratnagar Kings’ Sandeep Lamichhane.

Rohit and Trumpelmann also claimed three wickets each, with Rohit conceding just 12 runs from four overs. Tilak Raj Bhandari chipped in with one wicket as Lumbini maintained control of the final.