November 2, 2026: Sudurpaschim Royals secured their second win of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 season with a five-wicket victory over Chitwan Rhinos in the 11th match at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, the Royals restricted Chitwan to 129/6 in 20 overs. They then chased down the target of 130, reaching 131/5 in 16.4 overs with 20 balls remaining.
Ravi Bopara top-scored for Chitwan with 49, while Brandon McMullen gave Sudurpaschim a flying start before Sherfane Rutherford and Aarif Sheikh guided the team home.
Bopara Holds Chitwan's Innings Together
Chitwan Rhinos struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sudurpaschim bowling attack. They managed 39 runs in the powerplay but lost two early wickets, with Dev Khanal dismissed for seven and Arjun Saud for 15.
Dawid Malan added 16 before being caught behind off Dipendra Singh Airee, leaving Chitwan at 62/3 after 9.4 overs. Bopara then anchored the innings with 49, while Bibek Yadav contributed 17 off 15 balls. Chitwan crossed the 100-run mark in the 17th over but could not accelerate significantly in the closing stages, finishing at 129/6.
Scott Kuggeleijn was the pick of the Royals' bowlers with two wickets. Hemant Dhami, Dipendra Singh Airee and Anil Kharel claimed one each.
Royals Recover After Chitwan Fight Back
Sudurpaschim started their chase aggressively, reaching 50 in less than five overs. McMullen led the early charge with 39 off 19 balls as the Royals moved to 66/2 in the powerplay.
Chitwan briefly fought their way back into the contest by taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries. McMullen fell in the seventh over, followed by Dipendra Singh Airee, leaving the Royals at 70/4.Ishan Pandey helped steady the innings with 25 off 29 balls before being dismissed by Shyam Mousom Dhakal at 103/5.
With the game still requiring a few runs, Rutherford and Aarif Sheikh ensured there was no further trouble. Rutherford remained unbeaten on 21 off 15 balls, while Aarif finished on 20 not out from 26 deliveries. Their partnership took Sudurpaschim to 131/5 in 16.4 overs.
What the Result Means
The win gives Sudurpaschim Royals four points from four matches, with two victories and two defeats.
Chitwan Rhinos remain on three points from three matches. They have one win, one defeat and one abandoned fixture in their campaign.