KATHMANDU, Nov 22: Biratnagar Kings registered a comfortable 5-wicket win over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the second match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Saturday.
Chasing the target of 135 runs set by Kathmandu, Biratnagar achieved it in 17.1 overs for the loss of 5 wickets.
In its inning, Biratnagar Kings had its explosive start. Opener George Munshi batted aggressively and led the team to a strong position. Munshi scored 36 runs in just 16 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Another opener Lokesh Bam scored 14 runs in 10 balls.
In the middle order, experienced batsman Martin Guptill contributed 25 runs in 19 balls and Naren Bhatt contributed 24 runs in 30 balls, taking Biratnagar towards victory. Wasir Ahmed scored 19 runs.
G. Malla's six seals the win against Biratnagar Kings
In the end, Captain Sandeep Lamichhane remained not-out for nine runs and Shubham Ranjanel was not-out for his six runs to lead the team to victory.
Kathmandu’s bowler Shahab Alam took two wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Karan KC, Gerhard Erasmus and Santosh Yadav took one wicket each.
Earlier, Kathmandu Gorkhas that was invited to bat after losing the toss, scored 134 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
Kathmandu had a very bad start. The team lost four wickets just for the score of 29 runs.
Wicketkeeper Ben Charlesworth tried to control the innings by scoring 32 runs in 33 balls. However, it was Mohammad Adil Alam who took Kathmandu to a respectable score.
Adil batted aggressively in the last overs and scored an unbeaten 48 runs off 25 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Santosh Yadav also added 26 runs in 24 balls.
With this win, Biratnagar Kings has added two important points to its score list.
