Sudurpaschim Royals Beat Chitwan Rhinos in NPL 2026
“Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Chitwan Rhinos by five wickets in NPL 2026, as Brandon McMullen's 43 runs powered their successful chase.”
Sudurpaschim Royals registered their second victory of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 season after defeating Chitwan Rhinos by five wickets in the 11th match on Monday, November 2. Chasing a target of 130 runs, Sudurpaschim reached 131/5 in 16.4 overs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Brandon McMullen led the Royals' batting performance with an explosive 43 runs off 21 deliveries. Aarif Sheikh and Sherfane Rutherford also made valuable contributions to help their team complete the successful run chase.
The result ended Chitwan Rhinos' winning start to the tournament, while Sudurpaschim Royals secured their second victory in four matches.
Match Overview: Sudurpaschim Royals vs Chitwan Rhinos
Match DetailsInformationTournamentNepal Premier League 2026Match11th MatchDate2 November 2026VenueTU International Cricket Ground, KirtipurToss WinnerSudurpaschim RoyalsElected ToBowlChitwan Rhinos129/6 (20 overs)Sudurpaschim Royals131/5 (16.4 overs)Match ResultSudurpaschim won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the MatchBrandon McMullenChitwan Rhinos Manage 129 Runs Against a Disciplined Bowling Attack
After being asked to bat first, Chitwan Rhinos struggled to build momentum against Sudurpaschim's bowling attack.
The Rhinos managed 39 runs in the powerplay while losing two wickets. Dev Khanal scored seven runs, while Dawid Malan contributed 16 runs from 17 deliveries.
Ravi Bopara became the main contributor for Chitwan, scoring 49 runs from 40 balls, including three fours and two sixes. He kept the innings moving even as wickets continued to fall at the other end.
Sikandar Raza added 15 runs, while Bibek Yadav contributed 17 runs from 15 balls. Tom Taylor remained unbeaten on six runs.
Chitwan Rhinos eventually finished their innings at 129/6 in 20 overs, setting Sudurpaschim Royals a target of 130 runs.
Top Batting Performers – Chitwan Rhinos
Player Runs Balls- Ravi Bopara 49 40
- Bibek Yadav 17 15
- Dawid Malan 16 17
- Sikandar Raza 15 20
- Arjun Saud 15 16
Sudurpaschim Royals Bowling Performance
Sudurpaschim's bowlers played a major role in restricting Chitwan to a modest total.
Scott Kuggeleijn was among the standout performers, taking two wickets for 26 runs in four overs. Hemant Dhami also picked up one wicket, conceding 26 runs.
Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Anil Kharel took one wicket each, keeping pressure on Chitwan throughout the innings.
Top Bowling Performers – Sudurpaschim Royals
Bowler Overs Runs Wickets- Scott Kuggeleijn 4 26 2
- Hemant Dhami 4 26 1
- Dipendra Singh Airee 3 16 1
- Anil Kharel 4 18 1
Brandon McMullen's Explosive 43 Gives Sudurpaschim a Strong Start
Chasing 130 runs, Sudurpaschim Royals needed a confident start to stay ahead of the required run rate.
However, the Royals lost their opening wickets early. Saif Zaib scored just two runs, while Binod Bhandari contributed 11 runs.
Brandon McMullen then took charge of the innings. He scored an impressive 43 runs from only 21 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 204.76.
His aggressive batting helped Sudurpaschim reach 70 runs in just 6.2 overs. However, McMullen's dismissal was followed by the wicket of captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who was dismissed for a golden duck.
Chitwan's Ranjit Kumar picked up both wickets in consecutive deliveries, briefly bringing his team back into the contest.
Aarif Sheikh and Sherfane Rutherford Guide the Royals Home
After losing wickets in the middle overs, Sudurpaschim needed a steady partnership to finish the chase.
Ishan Pandey scored 25 runs from 29 deliveries, while Aarif Sheikh remained unbeaten on 20 runs from 26 balls.
Sherfane Rutherford provided the finishing momentum with an unbeaten 21 runs from 15 deliveries, including two fours and a six.
The partnership between Aarif Sheikh and Rutherford helped Sudurpaschim complete the chase comfortably.
The Royals reached 131/5 in 16.4 overs, winning the match by five wickets with 20 balls remaining.
Top Batting Performers – Sudurpaschim Royals
Player Runs Balls- Brandon McMullen 43 21
- Sherfane Rutherford 21 15
- Aarif Sheikh 20 26
- Ishan Pandey 25 29
- Binod Bhandari 11 7
Player of the Match: Brandon McMullen
Brandon McMullen was named Player of the Match for his outstanding batting performance.
Runs: 43
Balls: 21
Fours: 6
Sixes: 2
Strike Rate: 204.76
His aggressive innings helped Sudurpaschim recover from an early setback and establish control over the chase.
What Does This Result Mean for Both Teams?
The victory moved Sudurpaschim Royals from seventh to third position in the NPL 2026 points table at the time of the match. They secured their second win in four matches.
For Chitwan Rhinos, the defeat was their first of the season after starting the tournament with two wins. They remained fourth in the standings with three points.
Both teams will now look to strengthen their positions as the Nepal Premier League continues.
Upcoming Matches
The teams' next scheduled fixtures are:
Sudurpaschim Royals vs Karnali Yaks: 6 November 2026, 12:30 PM NPT.
Chitwan Rhinos vs Pokhara Avengers: 6 November 2026, 5:00 PM NPT.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who won the Sudurpaschim Royals vs Chitwan Rhinos match in NPL 2026?
Sudurpaschim Royals won the match by five wickets.
2. What was Chitwan Rhinos' total?
Chitwan Rhinos scored 129/6 in 20 overs.
3. What was Sudurpaschim Royals' score?
Sudurpaschim Royals scored 131/5 in 16.4 overs.
4. Who was the Player of the Match?
Brandon McMullen was named Player of the Match for scoring 43 runs from 21 balls.
5. Who was the highest scorer for Chitwan Rhinos?
Ravi Bopara was Chitwan's highest scorer with 49 runs from 40 balls.
6. How many wickets did Scott Kuggeleijn take?
Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets for 26 runs in four overs.
7. How many matches has Sudurpaschim Royals won in NPL 2026?
Sudurpaschim Royals secured their second victory in four matches with this win.
Conslusion
Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Chitwan Rhinos by five wickets in the 11th match of NPL 2026. Chitwan scored 129/6 in 20 overs, with Ravi Bopara top-scoring with 49 runs. In reply, Sudurpaschim chased the target in 16.4 overs, finishing at 131/5. Brandon McMullen scored an explosive 43 from 21 balls, while Aarif Sheikh and Sherfane Rutherford remained unbeaten to guide the Royals home. McMullen was named Player of the Match.