Lumbini All Stars, on Friday (December 30), thrashed Kathmandu Knights by 35 runs to continue their winning run in the ongoing Nepal T20 League.
Set a target of 151, the Knights managed to score only 115 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs. The win has further consolidated All Stars’ position at the top of the points table.
The All Stars now have 5 wins in as many games. On the other hand, the Knights suffered their second defeat in 4 games.
Kathmandu Knights’ chase:
Chasing 151, the Knights were off to a disastrous start as none of their top order could even open their accounts. The fate of the match was pretty much decided in the first couple of overs.
In the first over, Lokesh Bam was run out for a duck before Harmeet Singh sent back Virandeep Singh and skipper Gyanendra Malla in the second over to reduce the Knights to 2 for 3.
In the third over, Kishore Mahato dismissed Ryan Burl for 2 to leave the Knights reeling at 5 for 4. Alex Blake (11) could not do much with the bat either as Knights founds themselves 5 down for just 22.
A 49-run stand between Sunam Gautam (18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (38) then stopped the rot before both of them departed in quick succession. The Knighs eventually finished their innings on 115 for 8.
NepalT20
Match 13 – Kathmandu Knights vs Lumbini All Stars
– Match Summary#NepalT20 pic.twitter.com/UqYlK1X3g1— CAN (@CricketNep) December 30, 2022
Lumbini All Stars’ innings:
Earlier in the match, Lumbini All Stars posted a competitive total of 150 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs after deciding to bat first. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee led from the front and top-scored for his side, notching 40 runs off 27 balls with the help of 3 fours and a six.
All Stars kept losing at regular intervals and were reeling at 92 for 5 at one stage. Airee, however, stood firm from one end and remained till the 18th over to ensure that his team end up with a good total that eventually turned out to be a winning one.
NepalT20
Match 13 – Kathmandu Knights vs Lumbini All Stars
– Innings Summary#NepalT20 pic.twitter.com/FW8LOwtBc9— CAN (@CricketNep) December 30, 2022
Apart from him, only opener Lahiru Milantha (25) managed to cross the 20-run mark. For the Knights, Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 12.
Nepal T20 League points table:
| Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Points |
| Lumbini All Stars | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Janakpur Royals | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Kathmandu Knights | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Biratnagar Super Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Far West United | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Pokhara Avengers | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
