Grand Finale Bound! Lumbini Lions Oust Biratnagar Kings to Set Up Title Clash with Royals

Published · By Kushma Thapa

The dream run continues for the Lumbini Lions! In the high-stakes Qualifier 2, the Lions emerged victorious over the Biratnagar Kings by a convincing margin of 40 runs, securing their place in the NPL 2025 Grand Finale.

This victory completes a remarkable journey through the playoffs, seeing the Lions defeat both the Kathmandu Gorkhas and now the Biratnagar Kings in consecutive must-win matches.

Kings' Playoff Campaign Ends in Defeat

Invited to bat first, the Lions' batsmen set the tone for the match, posting a competitive total of 134/8 on the board. The score was built on a solid foundation from captain Rohit Paudel and opener D'Arcy Short, providing the bowlers with a defendable target.

In response, the Kings’ star-studded batting lineup suffered its second consecutive major collapse in the playoffs. They failed to capitalize on the chase, crumbling to 94/10 in 17.5 overs.

Despite a spirited effort, the Lions' bowling attack—led by a phenomenal effort from spinners Tilak Bhandari (3 wickets) and fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann (2 wickets)—proved too potent, restricting the opposition to a meager total. The 40-run victory margin was a testament to the Lions’ dominance and their strategic depth.

Elimination: With this defeat, the Biratnagar Kings finish the NPL 2025 campaign in 3rd place (as the loser of Qualifier 2) and are officially knocked out.

The Grand Finale is Set: Royals vs. Lions

The NPL 2025 Final will be a clash of consistency versus momentum, pitting the league's dominant force against the ultimate playoff survivors.

GRAND FINALE Saturday, December 13, 2025 Sudurpaschim Royals vs. Lumbini Lions NPL 2025 Championship Match

The Sudurpaschim Royals (1st seed) secured their spot by winning Qualifier 1, while the Lumbini Lions (4th seed) secured their spot after winning both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.

This will be the Royals' second consecutive Grand Finale appearance (they finished runners-up in NPL 2024), while it marks the Lions' first-ever final having finished last in NPL 2024.