D'Arcy Short produced a match-winning all-round performance as defending champions Lumbini Lions beat Karnali Yaks by four wickets in Match 23 of the Nepal Premier League at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Thursday, 12 November. Short took two wickets for 13 runs as Karnali were bowled out for 105, then top-scored with 46 off 34 balls to guide the chase home with 20 balls to spare — and the win makes Lumbini the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

The victory took Lumbini to the top of the points table with nine points from six matches. Karnali, meanwhile, suffered a fourth straight defeat after winning their first two games of the season, and their playoff hopes are now hanging by a thread.

Karnali collapse after winning the toss

Karnali won the toss and chose to bat, but their innings fell apart almost immediately. They lost four wickets for just 15 runs inside the first five overs and never recovered. Sompal Kami, batting at number six in his first match since handing the captaincy to David Miller, top-scored with 28 off 18 balls, hitting four fours and a six. Hussain Talat added 24 off 22 balls, but no other Karnali batter passed 13 — Gulshan Jha made 13 and Pawan Sarraf 12 — as the innings closed on 105 all out in 19.2 overs.

Lumbini's bowlers shared the wickets around. Short took two for 13 in four overs, captain Rohit Paudel two for 12 in three, Kishor Mahato two for six in 2.2 overs, and Abhishesh Gautam two for 21, while Sher Malla claimed one wicket.

Short leads the chase as Watt fights back

Lumbini's chase wobbled early too. Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel fell for one run each, and Sundeep Jora managed only four, but Short held the innings together with 46 off 34 balls, hitting six fours and a six. Niroshan Dickwella contributed 16 off 13 balls before Short was bowled by Hussain Talat at 79 for 5.

Mark Watt nearly turned the match for Karnali, taking four wickets for 12 runs in four overs, including a maiden, and removing Shamim Hossain for five. But Dilip Nath's unbeaten 28 off 27 balls, with four boundaries, guided Lumbini home alongside Ruben Trumpelmann, who finished two not out. Lumbini reached 107 for 6 in 16.4 overs, and Short was named Player of the Match.

Brief scores

Karnali Yaks 105 all out in 19.2 overs (Sompal Kami 28 off 18, Hussain Talat 24 off 22, Gulshan Jha 13, Pawan Sarraf 12; D'Arcy Short 2-13, Rohit Paudel 2-12, Kishor Mahato 2-6, Abhishesh Gautam 2-21, Sher Malla 1 wicket) lost to Lumbini Lions 107 for 6 in 16.4 overs (D'Arcy Short 46 off 34, Dilip Nath 28 not out off 27, Niroshan Dickwella 16 off 13; Mark Watt 4-12, Pawan Sarraf and Hussain Talat one wicket each) by four wickets. Player of the Match: D'Arcy Short.

What it means for the points table

Lumbini now sit top of the table with nine points from six matches — four wins, one defeat and one no-result, with a net run rate of +1.421 — and they are the first team through to the playoffs. Kathmandu Gorkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals are second and third respectively, both on eight points.

Karnali stay seventh with four points from six games. After winning their first two matches, they have now lost four in a row, and their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, with only their final league fixture against Chitwan Rhinos to come.

Captain change fails to lift Karnali

The defeat came in David Miller's first match as Karnali captain, after the South African star took over from Sompal Kami. The change made no difference to the result — Kami top-scored with 28, but Karnali still posted only 105, and Lumbini chased it down with more than three overs to spare.

What happens next

The NPL continues on Friday, 13 November with Match 24, Kathmandu Gorkhas against Sudurpaschim Royals at 12:30 pm NST at the same venue in Kirtipur. Lumbini, already through to the playoffs, will be watching the race for the remaining spots, while Karnali must regroup for their final league game against Chitwan Rhinos.

FAQs

Who won NPL Match 23 between Karnali Yaks and Lumbini Lions?

Lumbini Lions won by four wickets. Karnali were bowled out for 105 in 19.2 overs, and Lumbini reached 107 for 6 in 16.4 overs with 20 balls to spare.

Who was the Player of the Match?

D'Arcy Short, for 46 off 34 balls and two wickets for 13 runs in four overs.

Have Lumbini Lions qualified for the NPL playoffs?

Yes. The win took them to the top of the points table with nine points from six matches, and they are the first team to secure a playoff place.

Who captained Karnali Yaks in Match 23?

David Miller, who took over the captaincy from Sompal Kami ahead of the match. Kami still played and top-scored for Karnali with 28 off 18 balls.

What does the defeat mean for Karnali Yaks?

It was their fourth straight defeat after winning their first two matches. They stay seventh with four points from six games, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, with only their final league fixture against Chitwan Rhinos to come.

Conclusion

This was D'Arcy Short's match. Two wickets for 13 runs to help bowl Karnali out for 105, then a 46 off 34 balls that held the chase together when Lumbini wobbled — and the reward is a place at the top of the table and the first playoff spot of the season. Mark Watt's four for 12 gave Karnali hope, but 105 was never enough. For Karnali, the captaincy change did not bring a change of fortune: four defeats in a row, seventh on the table, and everything now resting on their final league game.

Also on CricVic: Sudurpaschim Royals defend 120 to beat Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs in NPL Match 21

Sources: OnlineKhabar — Lumbini Lions beat Karnali Yaks by four wickets | Kathmandu Post — Lumbini Lions seal playoff spot as Karnali Yaks suffer fourth straight defeat | Nepal Samaj — Defending champions Lumbini Lions become first team to qualify for NPL playoffs