Dipendra Singh Airee Fifty Helps Sudurpashchim Set 126 Target for Kathmandu

Sudurpashchim Royals set a target of 126 runs for Kathmandu Gurkhas in their Nepal Premier League clash at the TU Ground on 13 November 2026. Kathmandu Gurkhas won the toss and elected to field first. Sudurpashchim endured an early batting collapse, reduced to eight runs after losing three wickets in just 1.5 overs, before further dropping to four wickets for eight runs. Opener Scott Kuggeleijn was among those dismissed early, while Binod Bhandari also departed cheaply during the opening overs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee stepped in at number five to stabilize the innings alongside Aarif Sheikh, who came in at number six. Airee scored a crucial 60 runs, marking his second half-century of the third season of the NPL, to rescue his side from immediate distress. The captain's steady display allowed Sudurpashchim Royals to complete their allocated 20 overs, ending their innings at 125 for six wickets and giving Kathmandu Gurkhas a required target of 126 runs. Kathmandu's bowling attack performed effectively to restrict their opponents to a modest total. Jahandad Khan led the bowling effort by taking three wickets, while Santosh Yadav contributed with two wickets. Both teams introduced two tactical changes to their starting line-ups for this encounter, with a new player replacing Saif Zaib in the team. Sudurpashchim faced immense pressure to secure a win in this final group stage match to maintain their chances of qualifying for the next round.