Sudurpaschim dominance continues in a flawless march to the top

Sudurpaschim posted a total of 169-4 in their 20 overs after being sent to bat by Chitwan. Chris Lynn finally found form after a quiet tournament, opening the innings in place of the rested Josh Brown. Despite wickets falling around him, Lynn anchored the innings with a controlled 75 off 56 balls before retiring hurt late in the innings. His knock included five fours and three sixes, and partnerships of 46 with Binod Bhandari, 38 with Punit Mehra, and 45 with Aarif Sheikh. 

Binod contributed 21, Punit added 13, while Aarif Sheikh and captain Airee both smashed unbeaten 24s. Airee’s 14-ball cameo featured two sixes, while Aarif struck two fours and a six. 

Chasing 170, Chitwan collapsed from the very beginning and were bowled out for 120 with 17 balls remaining. No Chitwan batter crossed 30, with Ravi Bopara top-scoring on 29, followed by Dev Khanal (28), Arjun Saud (16) and captain Kushal Malla (15). 

Sudurpaschim’s bowlers kept relentless pressure, complemented by sharp fielding. Airee himself opened the bowling, giving away just nine runs in three overs and claiming a wicket, in addition to producing a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Dawid Malan. 

NPL debutant Puneet Mehra impressed with three wickets for 14 from 2.1 overs, while Hikmat Mahara, an emerging talent from the franchise’s talent hunt took 1-14 in two overs, removing last season’s star Saif Zaib. Avinash Bohara chipped in with wickets of Bopara, Ishan Pandey, and Kushal Malla, while Sudurpaschim executed three run-outs to complete a dominant all-round display. 

Head Coach Jagat Tamata praised his squad after their sixth consecutive victory, highlighting the collective effort behind the winning streak. He said every player had given '200 percent', pointing out that six different players had won Player of the Match awards across six games, a reflection of true team balance.

Tamata once again showered praise on Airee, calling him a 'God-gifted player', a sentiment he has repeated since Airee’s U-19 days. He lauded Airee’s leadership, energy, fielding brilliance and tactical awareness, crediting his on-field decisions for turning key moments. Tamata said Nepal should feel proud to have a player of Airee’s calibre, calling him 'one of the best captains' in the country. 

Under the leadership of Dipendra Singh Airee, the team has excelled in batting, bowling, fielding, and fan support, earning them the reputation of the most complete side in the tournament so far. 

Sudurpaschim still have one league match left, against Biratnagar Kings, which will determine their opponent for Qualifier 1. With playoffs approaching, the team has also been rotating squad members, ensuring bench players remain prepared. 

Last season, despite being favourites, Sudurpaschim fell short in the final against Janakpur Bolts. This year, determined to lift the trophy, they have produced performances that underline their title ambitions.