Sudur Paschim Royals overpower Pokhara Avengers by 18 runs in Kirtipur thriller

After being sent in to bat, Sudur Paschim posted a commanding 193/7 from their 20 overs, thanks to a blistering knock from Josh Brown, who smashed 68 off just 35 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award. Brown’s innings, packed with six fours and five sixes, set the tone for a high-scoring contest.

He was well supported by wicketkeeper Binod Bhandari, who anchored the innings with a composed 43 off 42 balls, while Chris Lynn’s 31 off 13 provided a fiery middle-overs push. At one point, Sudur Paschim raced to 99/0 in 10 overs, forming a 100-run opening stand. Despite a mini-collapse in the final overs, they crossed 190, thanks to late strikes from the lower order.

Pokhara’s bowling saw mixed results—James Neesham picked up 3 wickets, while Dan Douthwaite impressed with 2 for 24, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain Sudur Paschim’s power hitters.

Pokhara’s chase falls short despite Bhurtel–Neesham fightback

Chasing 194, Pokhara Avengers had a disastrous start, losing three wickets inside the first 2.2 overs. Captain Kushal Bhurtel then played a counterattacking captain’s knock, blasting 53 off 32 balls, including four fours and four sixes.

He found strong support from James Neesham, who hammered 47 off 25 and kept the chase alive with clean hitting. The pair lifted Pokhara past 100 in the 12th over, igniting hopes of a comeback.

However, regular wickets at crucial stages halted their momentum. Douthwaite’s late 37 off 16 brought the game close, but with 175/8 in 20 overs, Pokhara fell short by 18 runs.

Sudur Paschim’s bowlers hold their nerve

For Royals, Harmeet Singh was the standout bowler, delivering a brilliant spell of 2 for 22 in 4 overs. Scott Kuggeleijn, Abinash Bohara, Hemant Dhami, and Naren Saud all chipped in with timely wickets to keep pressure on Pokhara.

The disciplined bowling unit ensured Sudur Paschim’s early batting heroics were not wasted.

Match Summary

• Sudur Paschim Royals: 193/7 (Josh Brown 68, Binod Bhandari 43; Neesham 3/47, Douthwaite 2/24)
• Pokhara Avengers: 175/8 (Kushal Bhurtel 53, Neesham 47, Douthwaite 37; Harmeet 2/22)
• Result: Sudur Paschim Royals won by 18 runs
• Player of the Match: Josh Brown (68 off 35)

Sudur Paschim collect 2 valuable points, strengthening their position in the tournament, while Pokhara Avengers remain searching for momentum after another tough outing.