The second week of the Nepal Premier League kicks off on Sunday with two exciting encounters. Janakpur Bolts will lock horns with Lumbini Lions in the morning match at 9 AM NPT, while Chitwan Rhinos will face Sudurpaschim Royals in the afternoon game at 1 PM NPT at the TU International Cricket Ground.
Match 1: Janakpur Bolts vs. Lumbini Lions
Janakpur Bolts have been unstoppable so far, winning all three matches convincingly. They started their campaign with an eight-wicket win over Biratnagar Kings, followed by another eight-wicket victory against Karnali Yaks, and a dominant seven-wicket triumph over Pokhara Avengers.
Lumbini Lions, on the other hand, are yet to open their account, suffering three consecutive losses. They lost to Biratnagar Kings by two wickets in their opener, were hammered by 10 wickets by Pokhara Avengers, and were handed a 45-run defeat by Sudurpaschim Royals.
Janakpur Bolts’ strength lies in their robust top-order batting and a spin attack led by Lalit Rajbanshi. However, their untested middle and lower order could pose a concern if the top order collapses—though this is unlikely against Lumbini’s struggling bowling lineup.
Lumbini Lions’ primary issue remains their inconsistent and ineffective bowling attack. Captain Rohit Paudel’s strategies, particularly his bowling changes, have been below par, which has further compounded their problems.
Janakpur might introduce 19-year-old Joshua Tromp, while Lumbini Lions could see the return of Ben Cutting to bolster their lineup.
Probable Playing XI
Janakpur Bolts: Anil Sah, Aasif Sheikh, Lahiru Milantha, Joshua Tromp, James Neesham, Mohammad Mohsin, Subh Kansakar, Sher Malla, Lalit Rajbanshi, Hemant Dhami, Kishore Mahato.
Lumbini Lions: Arjun Saud, Unmukt Chand, Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, Tom Moores, Ben Cutting, Bibek Yadav, Dinesh Adhikari, Raymon Simmonds, Durgesh Gupta, Surya Tamang.
Match 2: Chitwan Rhinos vs. Sudurpaschim Royals
The afternoon game will feature unbeaten Sudurpaschim Royals against a Chitwan Rhinos side looking to regain momentum after a narrow defeat against Karnali Yaks on Friday. Sudurpaschim Royals have dominated their opponents in all three matches, showcasing a balanced side with consistent performances from both their batters and bowlers.
Chitwan Rhinos, with two wins against Kathmandu Gurkhas and Pokhara Avengers, have relied heavily on their pace attack led by Sohail Tanveer. Ravi Bopara has provided stability with the bat, but their middle-order batting remains a concern.
Sudurpaschim Royals are likely to field the same XI from their previous game, while Chitwan Rhinos might make a couple of changes, with Hassan Eisakhil and debutant Ranjit Kumar expected to feature.
Probable Playing XI
Sudurpaschim Royals: Saif Zaib, Binod Bhandari, Brandon McMullen, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Scott Kuggeleijn, Basant Khatri, Ishan Pandey, Naren Saud, Abinash Bohara, Naresh Budayair.
Chitwan Rhinos: Hassan Eisakhil, Deepak Bohara, Luc Benkenstein, Kushal Malla, Amar Singh Routela, Santosh Karki, Ravi Bopara, Sharad Vesawkar, Ranjit Kumar, Sohail Tanveer, Rijan Dhakal.
Where To Watch
Fans can follow all the action live on Star Sports globally, Fancode in India, Dish Home Go OTT in Nepal, and Action Sports’ YouTube channel in Nepal.
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