Saturday promises exciting action in the Nepal Premier League with two matches scheduled at TU International Cricket Ground. In the morning fixture at 9 AM, Lumbini Lions, still searching for their first win, will take on Sudurpaschim Royals, who are riding high on back-to-back victories. The afternoon game at 1 PM will see Karnali Yaks lock horns with Biratnagar Kings as both sides aim to build momentum in the competition.
Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals
Lumbini Lions have endured a tough start, losing to Biratnagar Kings and Pokhara Avengers in their first two games. Bowling remains their biggest concern, with Ben Cutting unable to bowl due to a niggle. They may look to bolster their spin department by bringing in Tilak Bhandari to partner with Surya Tamang. A couple of changes are expected, with Arjun Saud and Ben Cutting likely to return to the playing XI.
Sudurpaschim Royals, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence after wins against Biratnagar Kings and Kathmandu Gurkhas. With no apparent issues in their lineup, they are likely to stick to their winning combination for this game.
Lumbini LionsProbable Playing XI: Arjun Saud, Unmukt Chand, Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, Tom Moores, Ben Cutting, Bibek Yadav, Ramon Simmonds, Durgesh Gupta, Surya Tamang, Tilak Bhandari
Sudurpaschim Royals Probable Playing XI: Saif Zaib, Binod Bhandari, Brandon McMullen, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohan Mustafa, Aarif Sheikh, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ishan Pandey, Naren Saud, Abinash Bohara, Naresh Budayair
Karnali Yaks vs Biratnagar Kings
The afternoon game will feature two teams with identical records, one win and two losses each. Karnali Yaks will be looking to make the most of Shikhar Dhawan’s likely final appearance in the tournament. However, they need greater contributions from their local batters to reduce their dependency on Dhawan and Chadwick Walton.
Biratnagar Kings’ captain Sandeep Lamichhane will be eager to lead from the front, especially with just one wicket to his name in three matches. Their top order, featuring Martin Guptill, needs to fire if they are to secure a win. Both teams are expected to stick to their previous playing XIs.
Biratnagar Kings Probable Playing XI: Lokesh Bam, Ismat Alam, Martin Guptill, Rajesh Pulami, Nicholas Kirton, Basir Ahamad, Dipak Bohara, Pratish GC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Sole, Anil Kharel
Karnali Yaks Probable Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Dev Khanal, Chadwick Walton, Zeeshan Maqsood, Arjun Gharti, Gulshan Jha, William Bosisto, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Bipin Sharma, Unish Thakuri
Where To Watch:
Fans can catch all the action live on Star Sports globally, Fancode in India, Dish Home Go OTT in Nepal, and Action Sports’ YouTube channel. With packed stands expected, the atmosphere will be electric as teams battle for crucial points.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.