The Lumbini Lions finally secured their first win of the tournament. Despite this victory, their playoff hopes hinge heavily on other results. To keep their slim chances alive, they must win their remaining two matches by significant margins. The Lions’ breakthrough win was powered by skipper Rohit Paudel’s all-round brilliance. Paudel, who leads both the batting (261 runs) and bowling charts (7 wickets) for the Lions, has been their standout performer. However, for a miraculous playoff qualification, others in the team will need to step up. While Dugesh Gupta’s fitness remains a concern, young Abhishesh Gautam has emerged as a revelation for the Lions.
The Kathmandu Gurkhas, meanwhile, have played only three matches and have been idle for five days since their last outing. Much has changed in the standings during this time, but the Gurkhas still control their destiny. With one win and two losses, this match is equally critical for them. The batting has been underwhelming, with no player crossing 100 runs so far. Sumit Maharjan is their top scorer with just 88 runs. After two single-digit scores, Stephen Eskinazi looked promising with a knock of 37 in his last match. The Gurkhas will be hoping for a big contribution from him, as well as from Michael Levitt, who has shown glimpses of form with two promising 20s but is yet to make a significant impact.
In the bowling department, skipper Karan KC has struggled, picking up only two wickets in three games at an economy of 8.55. However, Shahab Alam and Namibian international Gerhard Erasmus have been effective in the middle overs, sharing eight wickets between them and keeping things tight. The Gurkhas have had a five-day break, which could be a blessing in disguise. It has given them the opportunity to regroup, reflect, and refine their strategies as they gear up for this crucial encounter.
Probable Playing XI of Kathmandu Gurkhas
Stephen Eskinazi †
Shankar Rana
Michael Levitt
Sumit Maharjan
Gerhard Erasmus
Bhim Sharki
Pratik Shrestha
Rashid Khan
Karan KC (c)
Shahab Alam
Probable Playing XI (Lumbini Lions)
Aashutosh Ghiraiya
Arjun Saud (Wk)
Unmukt Chand
Rohit Kumar Paudel (c)
Tom Moores
Sundeep Jora
Bibek Yadav
Saad Bin Zafar
Abhishesh Gautam
Durgesh Gupta/Dinesh Adhikari/Surya Tamang
Ramon Simmonds
