Kathmandu: National captain Rohit Paudel-led Lumbini Lions registered a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers to claim their second win of the Nepal Premier League T20 at the TU Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Inviting the Kushal Bhurtel-led Avengers to bat first, Lumbini restricted them to a modest 150-5 despite half-centuries from Adam Rossington and James Neesham. The Lions then chased down the target with two balls to spare, finishing on 151-7.

The victory lifted Lumbini to fifth place with two wins from five matches, while the Avengers, with one win and three defeats, slipped to seventh in the eight-team standings. Only the teams finishing at top four positions at the end of round robin league make it to the playoffs.

Batting first, the Avengers recovered from early hiccups after opener Adam Rossington and middle-order batter James Neesham struck impressive half-centuries.

English wicketkeeper-batter Rossington played a composed knock of 81 off 63 balls while Neesham provided a quickfire unbeaten 51 off 32.

The Avengers made a shaky start, losing wickets at regular intervals. Dinesh Kharel (7), captain Bhurtel (golden duck), Sumeet Verma (duck) and Trit Raj Das (1) fell cheaply, leaving the side reeling at 33-4.

Rossington steadied the innings with seven boundaries and five sixes. He also shared a 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Neesham before being caught by Sher Malla off Tilak Bhandari.

Neesham finished strongly, smashing three fours and six sixes to take the Avengers to the 150-run mark and complete his maiden half-century of the tournament.

In reply, Lions openers D’Arcy Short (7) and Sumit Maharjan (0) fell early to Bipin Khatri. But captain Paudel anchored the innings with a steady 40 off 36 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. Niroshan Dickwella added a brisk 37 off 22, studded with two fours and two sixes.

Sundeep Jora chipped in with a valuable 25 off 22, hitting two boundaries and a six, including the winning four, while Gulbadin Naib contributed 17 off 11 to seal the victory.