Short's 46 takes Lumbini past Karnali and into the playoffs

Lumbini Lions beat Karnali Yaks by four wickets on Thursday at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. It was Match 23 of NPL Season 3.

Lumbini, the defending champions, have 9 points from six games and are top of the table. The Kathmandu Post says the win puts them in the playoffs, and Khabarhub and Nepal News say they're the first team to get there. Karnali have 4 points from six games and are seventh. They won their first two games and have lost four in a row since.

Miller's first game as captain

David Miller replaced Sompal Kami as Karnali's captain for this game, The Kathmandu Post says. Karnali won the toss and chose to bat.

Dipendra Rawat, in his first game of the season, was bowled by Abhisesh Gautam in the first over. Gautam bowled Deepak Dumre too, Kishor Mahato had Ariful Islam caught by Rohit Paudel, and Miller edged Sher Malla to Ruben Trumpelmann for 5. Karnali were 15 for 4 in the fifth over.

Kami made 28 off 18, with four fours and a six, before D'Arcy Short had him caught at long-on by Aasif Sheikh. Short then bowled Pawan Sarraf for 12. Hussain Talat made 24 off 22, and Karnali were all out for 105 in 19.2 overs.

Gautam, Mahato, Short and Paudel took two wickets each. Short's four overs went for 13, and Mahato's two for 6 came from 2.2 overs.

Watt's four for 12

Mark Watt took three of the first four Lumbini wickets: Aasif Sheikh lbw, Paudel caught by Ariful Islam and, later, Niroshan Dickwella for 16. Sundeep Jora went to Sarraf in between, and Lumbini were 19 for 3 in the fifth over.

Short made 46 off 34, with six fours and a six, before Talat bowled him at 79 for 5. Watt then had Shamim Hossain caught by Kami, and finished with four for 12 from his four overs, with a maiden.

Dilip Nath stayed to the end with 28 not out off 27, and Lumbini got there in 16.4 overs, with 20 balls left.

Short was player of the match.

Lumbini's last league game is against Biratnagar Kings. Karnali's is against Chitwan Rhinos.

The scorecard and the points table are on the match page.