Adam Rossington and Jimmy Neesham produced commanding half-centuries to steer Pokhara Avengers to a respectable 150 for 5 wickets against Lumbini Lions in Saturday’s first Nepal Premier League (NPL) match at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Pokhara stumbled early, losing four wickets for just 33 runs in eight overs. Rossington and Neesham, however, rebuilt the innings with a crucial 92-run stand off 62 balls for the fifth wicket.

Rossington top-scored with a fluent 81 off 63 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes before Tilakraj Bhandari dismissed him in the 19th over. Neesham remained unbeaten on 51 off 32 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six. Kiran Thagunna stayed not out on 1 from two balls.

Openers struggled to settle as Dinesh Kharel fell for 7, skipper Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed for a golden duck, Sumit Verma departed for zero, and Trit Raj Das added just a single.

For Lumbini, Sher Malla returned figures of 2–23 from four overs, while Tilakraj Bhandari matched him with 2–25. Gulbadin Naib bowled economically for 1–20 from his four overs.

Lumbini, who have already lost three of their four matches and won only once, now face the pressure of winning all their remaining games to keep playoff hopes alive. Pokhara, who lost their first two fixtures to Sudurpashchim Royals and Janakpur Bolts, came into the match after defeating Janakpur in their previous outing.

Today’s match also marks the final appearance of Lumbini’s Gulbadin Naib and Pokhara’s Jimmy Neesham in this edition of the tournament, as both players are set to depart for Dubai to participate in the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20).

Lumbini have fielded Sri Lankan international Niroshan Dickwella—who has represented his country in 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20Is—in place of Thomas Draca.

Pokhara made two changes of their own, bringing in Abhishek Tiwari and Matt Taylor for Aakash Chand and Dan Douthwaite.