Lumbini Lions met Chitwan Rhinos after four defeats in a row, including a soul-crushing 1-run loss against Janakpur Bolts. Despite the loss, Skipper Rohit Paudel did everything he could have done in those four matches. He scored runs and also took wickets with his part-time off break. Yet, the Lions were searching for the first win.
Rohit scored a sublime 80 off 57, continuing his good form in the first innings with the help of six fours and five sixes. He then picked up four wickets to hand the Rhinos a 33-run loss. There are only four instances of players scoring fifty and taking four-wicket hauls in 20-over matches in top franchise leagues played in Nepal (all at T.U Ground). The list is as follows.
Israrullah v Chitwan Tigers (EPL 2017)
Pakistan all-rounder Israrullah took 4-for 22 with his slow left-arm spin and then smashed an unbeaten 61 not out in 114 run-chase during the second season of Everest Premier League in 2017.
Azmatullah Omarzai v Biratnagar Warriors ( EPL 2021)
Similarly, Afghanistan’s young all-rounder Omarzai blasted an unbeaten 58 not out of just 24 balls with the help of 7 sixes as Lalitpur Patriots posted 226/5 on the board. Later, he claimed 4/42 in Patriot’s 37-run win.
Dipendra Singh Airee v PNG (2022)
There is nothing Dipendra Singh Airee cannot do on the cricket field. Airee’s best effort came during the final of the Tri-Nation T20I Series involving PNG and Malaysia in 2022. Nepal posted 168/6 on the back of Airee’s unbeaten 54. Airee then scalped 4-22 from his 4 overs as Nepal secured a convincing 50-run win to clinch the title.
Rohit Paudel v Chitwan Rhinos (2024, TODAY)
