Lumbini Lions Defeat Pokhara Avengers | NPL 2026
“Lumbini Lions secured an eight-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers in NPL 2026, led by Ruben Trumpelmann's three wickets and Rohit Paudel's unbeaten 47.”
Match Summary: Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Nepal Premier League 2026 |
| Match | 13th Match |
| Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Venue | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| Toss | Lumbini Lions won and elected to bowl |
| Pokhara Avengers | 97/9 (20 overs) |
| Lumbini Lions | 98/2 (11.4 overs) |
| Result | Lumbini Lions won by 8 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Ruben Trumpelmann |
Pokhara Avengers Struggle with the Bat
Pokhara Avengers struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. Their innings suffered an early setback when Arjun Kumal was dismissed for a duck by Ruben Trumpelmann in the opening over.
The early wicket put pressure on Pokhara's batting lineup, and the team failed to establish consistent partnerships. Captain Kushal Bhurtel scored 14 runs from 20 balls, while Mahedi Hasan contributed 13 from 24 deliveries.
Chamika Karunaratne provided some resistance with 25 runs off 17 balls, including two sixes. However, regular wickets prevented Pokhara from accelerating their scoring rate.
Pokhara Avengers eventually finished at 97/9 in 20 overs, setting Lumbini Lions a target of 98 runs.
Pokhara Avengers Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Arjun Kumal | 0 | 2 |
| Kushal Bhurtel | 14 | 20 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | 7 | 8 |
| Bipin Acharya | 1 | 8 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 3 | 8 |
| Mahedi Hasan | 13 | 24 |
| Arjun Gharti | 6 | 20 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 25 | 17 |
| Kiran Thagunna | 12 | 6 |
| Bipin Khatri | 6* | 7 |
| Aakash Chand | 1* | 1 |
| Total | 97/9 | 20 overs |
Ruben Trumpelmann Leads Lumbini's Bowling Attack
Ruben Trumpelmann delivered an impressive bowling performance, taking three wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs. His early breakthroughs put Pokhara Avengers under pressure and restricted their scoring opportunities.
Tilak Bhandari also contributed with two wickets for 22 runs. Sher Malla and Abhishesh Gautam claimed one wicket each, while captain Rohit Paudel also picked up a wicket.
Lumbini's disciplined bowling performance prevented Pokhara from building meaningful partnerships and restricted them to 97/9.
Lumbini Lions Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruben Trumpelmann | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| Kishore Mahato | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| Sher Malla | 4 | 24 | 1 |
| Abhishesh Gautam | 4 | 15 | 1 |
| Tilak Bhandari | 4 | 22 | 2 |
| Rohit Paudel | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Rohit Paudel and Niroshan Dickwella Complete the Chase
Lumbini Lions faced an early challenge during the chase, losing their opening two wickets. Aasif Sheikh scored seven runs, while D'Arcy Short contributed 13 from just six deliveries.
Captain Rohit Paudel and Niroshan Dickwella then took control of the innings with a match-winning partnership. Paudel remained unbeaten on 47 from 32 balls, hitting three boundaries and three sixes.
Dickwella supported him with an unbeaten 27 from 26 deliveries. The pair added 77 runs for the third wicket, guiding Lumbini to 98/2 in just 11.4 overs.
Lumbini completed the chase with 50 balls remaining to secure a convincing eight-wicket victory.
Lumbini Lions Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Aasif Sheikh | 7 | 7 |
| D'Arcy Short | 13 | 6 |
| Rohit Paudel | 47* | 32 |
| Niroshan Dickwella | 27* | 26 |
| Total | 98/2 | 11.4 overs |
Player of the Match: Ruben Trumpelmann
Ruben Trumpelmann was named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance. His figures of 3/16 in four overs played a crucial role in restricting Pokhara Avengers to 97/9 and setting up Lumbini Lions' comfortable victory.
What Does This Result Mean for Both Teams?
The victory strengthened Lumbini Lions' position in the NPL 2026 points table. With five points from three matches, the defending champions maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament.
For Pokhara Avengers, the defeat marked their third consecutive loss, leaving them without a victory after three matches. The team will need to improve its batting performance and build stronger partnerships in upcoming fixtures.
Lumbini will aim to continue their winning momentum, while Pokhara will look to bounce back in their next match.
Upcoming Match
Lumbini Lions are scheduled to face Janakpur Bolts in their next match.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who won the Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers match?
Lumbini Lions defeated Pokhara Avengers by 8 wickets in the 13th match of NPL 2026.
2. What was Pokhara Avengers' score?
Pokhara Avengers scored 97 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs.
3. What was Lumbini Lions' score?
Lumbini Lions scored 98 runs for 2 wickets in 11.4 overs.
4. Who was the Player of the Match?
Ruben Trumpelmann was named Player of the Match after taking 3 wickets for 16 runs.
5. How many runs did Rohit Paudel score?
Rohit Paudel scored an unbeaten 47 runs from 32 balls.
6. How many wickets did Ruben Trumpelmann take?
Ruben Trumpelmann took 3 wickets in his four overs.
Conslusion
Lumbini Lions defeated Pokhara Avengers by eight wickets in NPL 2026 Match 13. Pokhara scored 97/9, while Lumbini chased the target in 11.4 overs. Ruben Trumpelmann claimed 3/16, and Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 47 to guide Lumbini to victory.