November 3, 2026: Defending champions Lumbini Lions continued their strong start to the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers in the 13th match at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday.
Lumbini's bowlers restricted Pokhara to 97/9 in 20 overs before the Lions chased down the target in just 11.4 overs, finishing at 98/2 with 50 balls to spare.
Ruben Trumpelmann led the bowling attack with figures of 3/16 and was named Player of the Match. Captain Rohit Paudel then guided the chase with an unbeaten 47 off 32 balls.
Trumpelmann Leads Pokhara's Batting Collapse
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Lumbini put Pokhara under pressure from the start. Arjun Kumal was dismissed for a duck in the opening over, and the Avengers struggled to build partnerships throughout their innings.
Pokhara were reduced to 39/5 after 10 overs and did not reach the 50-run mark until the 15th over.Trumpelmann was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for 16 runs in his four overs. Tilak Bhandari also made an important contribution with two wickets.
Captain Kushal Bhurtel managed 14 off 20 balls, while Mahedi Hasan scored 13 from 24 deliveries. Chamika Karunaratne provided some resistance with 25 off 17 balls, but regular wickets prevented Pokhara from building a competitive total. They eventually finished on 97/9.
Rohit Paudel and Dickwella Complete the Chase
Lumbini lost Aasif Sheikh early for eight runs on the scoreboard. D'Arcy Short briefly accelerated the innings with 13 off six balls but was dismissed at 21/2. Captain Rohit Paudel and Niroshan Dickwella then took control, putting together an unbeaten 77-run partnership for the third wicket to take Lumbini comfortably towards the target.
Paudel remained unbeaten on 47 from 32 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Dickwella supported him with an unbeaten 27 off 26 deliveries as Lumbini reached 98/2 in 11.4 overs.
What the Result Means
The win gives Lumbini Lions another important result in their title defence after beginning the season with a seven-wicket victory. The defending champions have now collected two wins from their opening matches.
Pokhara Avengers, meanwhile, remain without a win after losing all three of their matches so far.
Trumpelmann's performance was another highlight of the match. The South African pacer was also named Player of the Series in NPL 2025, when Lumbini won their first title.