NPL Cricket 2026: Nepali Bowlers Dominate as All Match Winners Shine
28th October 2026, Kathmandu
Nepal Premier League Season 3: Nepali Bowlers Shine in Opening Matches, Standings & Highlights.
Catch up on the latest Nepal Premier League (NPL) updates as Nepali bowlers dominate the tournament, winning Player of the Match in every game. Explore current standings, batting stats, and upcoming match details.
Nepali bowlers have stamped their absolute dominance in the ongoing third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) held at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. In all three matches played so far, stellar performances by Nepali bowlers have earned them the prestigious “Player of the Match” awards.
The standout performers who clinched the award include Sher Malla of Lumbini Lions, Kamal Singh Airee of Chitwan Rhinos, and Yunish Bikram Thakuri of Karnali Yaks. Notably, these local bowlers managed to dismiss not just domestic batters, but also renowned international stars.
Match Highlights & Award Winners
Lumbini Lions vs. Sudurpaschim (Kartik 9): In the opening match, Lumbini’s Sher Malla delivered a brilliant spell, conceding just 11 runs in 4 overs while picking up 3 wickets. He won the Player of the Match award along with a cash prize of NPR 50,000 as Lumbini secured a 7-wicket victory. Malla dismissed high-profile international players Sherfane Rutherford, Scott Kuggeleijn, and Binod Bhandari.
Chitwan Rhinos vs. Biratnagar Kings (Kartik 10): Chitwan emerged victorious by 8 runs in a thrilling encounter, largely thanks to Kamal Singh Airee’s exceptional bowling. Airee grabbed 4 crucial wickets for 26 runs in his 4 overs, earning the Player of the Match title and NPR 50,000. His prized scalps included Andre Russell, Angelo Mathews, Rupesh Singh, and Basir Ahmad.
Karnali Yaks vs. Janakpur Bolts (Kartik 10): Karnali made a winning start by stunning Janakpur by 19 runs. Bowler Yunish Bikram Thakuri starred for Karnali, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs to secure the Player of the Match award and NPR 50,000. Thakuri dismissed international and domestic stars Jimmy Neesham, Harmeet Singh, and Aditya Mehta.
Top 5 Bowling Standings
Nepali bowlers heavily occupy the upper echelons of the current bowling chart, with four out of the top five positions held by locals:
Kishore Mahato (Lumbini Lions): 4 wickets for 22 runs (1 match)
Kamal Singh Airee (Chitwan Rhinos): 4 wickets for 26 runs (1 match)
Sher Malla (Lumbini Lions): 3 wickets (1 match)
Harmeet Singh (Janakpur Bolts): 3 wickets (1 match – Foreign player)
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Yunish Bikram Thakuri (Karnali Yaks): 3 wickets (1 match)
Batting & Team Standings
While bowlers have dominated headlines, international batters lead the run-scoring charts. Chitwan Rhinos’ David Malan tops the list with 70 runs from a single innings—scoring the tournament’s first half-century. Karnali’s Ariful Islam sits second (43 runs), and Lumbini’s Darcy Short is third (40 runs). Nepali batters Imran Sheikh (Biratnagar, 39 runs) and Pawan Sarraf (Karnali, 37 runs) round out the top five.
Highest Team Total: Chitwan Rhinos (157 runs)
Lowest Team Total: Sudurpaschim Royals (87 runs)
Points Table: Lumbini Lions lead the standings with 2 points, while Sudurpaschim sits at the bottom. Kathmandu and Pokhara are yet to play their opening matches, while other teams have completed one game each.
Today’s Fixture
A single match is scheduled for today at 5:00 PM, featuring a clash between Pokhara Avengers and Sudurpaschim Royals. Sudurpaschim has historically dominated Pokhara in past editions, but a determined Pokhara squad led by captain Kushal Bhurtel is eager to change the narrative. Meanwhile, Sudurpaschim, captained by Dipendra Singh Airee, is looking to bounce back after a tough start.
Tournament Prizes
The tournament, which began on Kartik 9 with 8 participating teams, will conclude with the grand finale on Mangsir 5.
Winner: NPR 1.5 Crore
Runner-up: NPR 80 Lakhs
Third Place: NPR 40 Lakhs
Fourth Place: NPR 30 Lakhs
Janakpur won the inaugural title, while Lumbini clinched the second edition. Sudurpaschim finished as runners-up in both previous seasons.
For more: NPL Cricket 2026 Nepali Bowlers Dominate
