KATHMANDU, Dec 4: Biratnagar Kings secured a thrilling two-wicket victory over Lumbini Lions in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday.
In the match held at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Lumbini Lions set a mammoth target of 192 runs after batting first. The score of 191 runs scored by the Lions is the highest runs posted by a team in the inaugural season of the NPL.
Lions’ Captain Rohit Paudel scored the highest of 46 runs off 29 balls, with the help of six boundaries including two sixes. English batsman Tom Moores added 30 runs off 17 runs with four boundaries including three sixes. A total of four batsmen from the Kings, including opener Ashutosh Ghiraiya, Moores, Sundeep Jora, and Australian allrounder Ben Cutting, were sent back to the pavilion due to run outs.
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Of the Kings’ bowling attack, only Sandeep Lamichhane, Ismat Alam, and Rajesh Pulami claimed a wicket apiece.
In return, Biratnagar Kings completed the target with one ball remaining (in 19.5 overs), losing eight wickets. Kings’ opener Lokesh Bam played a knock of 71 runs off 47 balls, scoring nine boundaries including six sixes. Basir Ahmad scored 40 runs off 23 balls with six boundaries including a six.
The Kings needed 15 runs to win as Bibek Yadav was sent in to bowl the final over. Yadav started the final over with two consecuetive wide balls before claiming the wicket of Kings’ captain Lamichhane. Scottish bowler Chris Sole, who came in with four deliveries remaining, hit a six followed by two fours in 4 balls, leading the team to a thrilling victory.
From the Lions’ bowling attack, Durgesh Gupta dismissed three batsmen, with a miserly economy of 5.25 runs per over in his four overs bowled. West Indian bowler Ramon Simmonds and Canadian allrounder Saad Bin Zafar claimed two wickets apiece.
