Saif Zaib delivered a stellar all-round performance as Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Lumbini Lions by 45 runs and preserved their perfect start in the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

English allrounder Zaib’s blistering knock of 90 runs off 61 balls propelled Sudurpaschim to a formidable total of 187-4. He then excelled with the ball taking 3-33 to help Sudurpaschim restrict Lumbini to 142-9.

The outcome maintained Sudurpaschim’s unbeaten record, lifting them above Janakpur Bolts to the top of the table on net run rate. Both Sudurpaschim and Janakpur have six points after three matches.

Invited to bat first, Zaib anchored Sudurpaschim’s innings adding a 49-run opening stand with Binod Bhandari (17 off 13), a 57-run partnership with with Brandon McMullen (23 0f 20) and a 53-run blitz with with Dipendra Singh Airee, who smashed a rapid 19-ball 39.

Zaib hit six boundaries and five biggies.

Lumbini’s chase faltered from the onset and were in deep trouble at 19-5 inside 3.3.

Scott Kuggeleijn and McMullen were the destroyers-in-chief. Kuggeleijn struck twice in the first over to remove both openers Arjun Saud (0) and Unmukt Chand (4) before McMullen wreaked havoc with three quick wickets of skipper Rohit Paudel (5), Tom Moores (7) and Saad Bin Zafar (0).

Sundeep Jora added 20 runs off 26 balls to drag Lumbini to 56-5 before he too fell to Abinash Bohara.

Bibek Yadav scored a valiant unbeaten 77 off 54 balls to lead the recovery but Zaib extinguished any hopes of a successful chase by cleaning up the tail, removing Dinesh Adhikari (14 off 16), Simmonds (0) and Surya Tamang (7).

It was Lumbini’s third straight defeat and the team sit at the bottom of the table without a point.

Lumbini are the only side yet to register a victory in the Nepal Premier League.

Khanal, Bosisto rescue Karnali

Karnali continued their resurgence with a thrilling seven-run victory over Biratnagar Kings but had to rely heavily on half-centuries from Dev Khanal and Australian batter Willian Bosisto.

Khanal and Bosisto were the only batters for Karnali to score in double digits, with Pratis GC leading Biratnagar’s bowling attack with an impressive 4-17 including a wicket-laden final over.

Karnali suffered an early setback when their star batter Shikhar Dhawan fell to GC and Chadwick Walton was removed by Chris Sole.

But Khanal and Bosisto combined for a 102-run partnership to steady the ship.

Khanal fell to Basir Ahamad (2-22) in the 15.3 overs, after making 53 off 48 balls. He hit four fours and two sixes.

Bosisto scored 49-ball 66 featuring five hits to the boundaries and three maximums to take Karnali to 133-7 after 19 overs.

GC then returned in the final over and breathed fire to remove Zeeshan Maqsood, Nandan Yadav, Unish Thakuri and Bipin Sharma.

In reply, Biratnagar stumbled to 60-5 in 11.5 overs, with Bipin Sharma, Nandan Yadav and Bosisto dismissing Martin Guptill (4), Lokesh Bam (19), Aqib Ilyas (8), Naren Bhatta (7) and Ahamad (8).

Nicholas Kirton steadied the innings with 40 off 39 and Dipak Bohara supported him contributing 18 off 13 but could not complete the chase.

It was Biratnagar’s third loss of the tournament. They sit second from bottom with just two points.