In just 27 days and 32 matches, the second edition of the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) successfully concluded, marking another milestone for Nepali cricket. Lumbini Lions clinched their maiden title with a convincing six-wicket win over Sudurpaschim Royals in Saturday’s final.
Sudurpaschim, meanwhile, finished as runners-up for the second consecutive season, once again proving their consistency at the top level. Team efforts and individual player performances were key, as shown clearly in the statistics.
Top Run Scorer
Pokhara Avengers’ English wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Rossington finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament. He scored 323 runs in 7 matches, including one century and two half-centuries.
Despite Pokhara Avengers being eliminated at the league stage, no other player could surpass Rossington’s tally. For this achievement, he was awarded the Presidential Platinum Cap along with a cash prize of NPR Rs 50,000.
Among Nepali players, national team caption Rohit Poudel was the highest run-scorer of the season.
Lumbini Lions captain Rohit Kumar Poudel was named the best batter of the tournament. He scored 276 runs in 10 matches at an average of 27.6, finishing as the highest run-scorer among Nepali players. His highest score was 49 against Karnali Yaks, and he also contributed with the ball by taking 10 wickets in the tournament.
Sudurpaschim’s wicket keeper Binod Bhandari finished as the second-highest run-scorer among Nepali players in the tournament. He scored 264 runs in 9 innings at an average of 33. Binod struck two half-centuries this season—an unbeaten 69 against Lumbini Lions in the group stage and 63 against Biratnagar in the first qualifier.
Top Wicket Taker
Meanwhile, Biratnagar Kings captain Sandeep Lamichhane was declared the best bowler of the tournament. He took 17 wickets in 9 matches with average of 10.41. Along with him, Lumbini’s Sher Malla and Sudurpaschim’s Avinash Bohara also had 17 wickets, but Sandeep remained at the top in terms of economy and average. Sandeep also won a Pulsar bike by becoming the best bowler of the tournament.
Sudurpaschim Royals’ Avinash Bohara and Lumbini Lions’ Sher Malla also took 17 wickets each, with bowling averages of 11.47 and 13.76 respectively.
Best Emerging Player
Lumbini Lions’ Sher Malla was named the Best Emerging Player of NPL Season 2 after playing a key role in the team’s title-winning campaign.
A member of Janakpur Bolts’ championship squad last season, Sher continued his winning run by lifting the title again—this time with Lumbini. The tournament was also a standout one for him personally.
Known for his mystery spin, Sher consistently troubled top-order batters. He took 17 wickets in 10 matches and was rewarded with the Best Emerging Player award along with a Pulsar bike.
Two centuries were scored in NPL Season 2
Two centuries were recorded in the second season of the NPL, doubling the tally from the first season, which saw only one century.
Karnali Yaks’ Mark Watt scored his maiden NPL century against Lumbini Lions, registering a record hundred in the tournament.
Pokhara Avengers’ Adam Rossington also reached three figures, scoring a century against Karnali Yaks. He became the second Pokhara player to score an NPL century, after Andres Gauss, who achieved the feat in the first season.
Two hat-tricks were recorded in NPL Season 2
Two hat-tricks were recorded in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League. Kathmandu Gorkhaz’s Shahab Alam and Lumbini Lions captain Rohit Poudel achieved the feat.
Rohit Poudel took his hat-trick against Sudurpaschim Royals in the final, becoming the first player to claim a hat-trick in an NPL final.
Shahab Alam registered a record hat-trick against Pokhara Avengers and went on to take six wickets in the match.
