Lumbini Lions vs Karnali Yaks: The 22nd match of the Nepal Premier League pits the struggling Lumbini Lions against the in-form Karnali Yaks. While the Lions have endured a challenging season and are already out of the playoff race, the Yaks are riding high on momentum with playoff aspirations still alive.
Pitch and Conditions
A balanced surface with an average first-innings score of 137. Both pacers and spinners can expect assistance. The TU Cricket Ground has been fairly balanced for both batters and bowlers. The last few games suggest a slight advantage for teams bowling first, with the pitch offering early movement for seamers.
NPL Standings
- Lumbini Lions: Placed last with 1 win and 5 losses. Their playoff hopes have evaporated due to consistent underperformance.
- Karnali Yaks: 4th on the table with 3 wins from 5 games, holding a positive net run rate and a strong chance of progressing further.
Form Guide
- Lumbini Lions: L, W, L, L, L
- Karnali Yaks: W, W, W, L, L
Key Players
Lumbini Lions
- Batting:
- Rohit Paudel (captain): A dependable all-rounder who can chip in with crucial runs.
- Saad Bin Zafar: The standout bowler in their last match, taking 3/21.
Karnali Yaks
- Batting:
- Chadwick Walton: Scored a match-winning 42 in the previous game.
- Gulshan Jha: A powerful finisher, top-scoring with 49 not out last time.
- William Bosisto: Starred with 6/28 in the last match, showing his ability to decimate lineups.
Lumbini Lions vs Karnali Yaks Lineups
Lumbini Lions Playing XI:
- Rohit Paudel (captain)
- Arjun Saud (wk)
- Unmukt Chand
- Tom Moores
- Saad Bin Zafar
- Ashutosh Ghiraiya
- Sundeep Jora
- Ramon Simmonds
- Bibek Yadav
- Durgesh Gupta
- Abhishesh Gautam
Karnali Yaks Playing XI:
- Sompal Kami (Captain)
- Bipin Sharma
- Zeeshan Maqsood
- Dev Khanal
- Babar Hayat
- Chadwick Walton
- Gulshan Jha
- William Bosisto
- Arjun Gharti
- Nandan Yadav
- Unish Thakuri
Lumbini Lions vs Karnali Yaks Prediction
While Lumbini Lions are eager to salvage some pride, Karnali Yaks’ recent form makes them clear favorites. Their batting lineup, complemented by a potent bowling attack, is expected to outclass the Lions.
Prediction: Karnali Yaks to win by a comfortable margin.
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