Kathmandu: Runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals registered an 18-run victory over Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League T20 on Friday, securing their second win in a row while handing the Avengers their second consecutive defeat at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur.

Sent in to bat first, the Royals, led by captain Dipendra Singh Airee, posted a commanding total of 193-7 before restricting the Avengers to 175-8.

The Royals had defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by 29 runs in their opening match while the Avengers had suffered a 53-run loss against Biratnagar Kings in their first outing.

Openers Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari laid the foundation for the Royals’ big total, stitching a 108-run opening partnership. Australian batter Brown hammered a quickfire 68 off 35 balls, studded with six fours and five sixes before falling to James Neesham in the 11th over, caught by Kiran Thagunna. Bhandari played a patient 43 off 42, hitting six boundaries.

Chris Lynn, batting at number three, continued the momentum with a blistering 31 off 13 deliveries, laced with four fours and two sixes. Captain Airee contributed 15 off 10 while the rest of the batting lineup failed to reach double figures.

For the Avengers, James Neesham claimed 3-47 from his four overs, while Dan Douthwaite and Aakash Chand picked up two wickets each.

Chasing 194, the Avengers slumped early, losing openers Dinesh Kharel (6) and Adam Rossington (1), along with Kiran Thagunna (9), to be reeling at 20-3. However, captain Kushal Bhurtel steadied the innings with a 32-ball 52 featuring four fours and four sixes. Neesham added a valuable 47 off 25, and together they shared a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Lower middle-order batter Douthwaite was the only other player to reach double figures, smashing 37 off 16 deliveries.

For the Royals, Harmeet Singh impressed with figures of 2-22 from his four overs, while Scott Kuggeleijn, Airee, Hemant Dhami, Abinash Bohara and Naren Saud claimed a wicket each.