Biratnagar’s third consecutive victory

With impressive bowling from marquee player and captain Sandeep Lamichhane, the Biratnagar Kings secured their third consecutive victory in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

In a low-scoring yet thrilling contest, Biratnagar defeated Janakpur by 9 runs. With this win, Biratnagar climbed to the top of the table with 6 points.

Chasing a target of 136 runs, Janakpur were restricted to 126 runs for 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Despite having a modest target, Janakpur failed to start well. Opener Aasif Sheikh was bowled by Surya Tamang for 13 runs. At that point, the team had scored just 19 runs. Janakpur managed only 35 runs in the first powerplay, which was 5 runs fewer than Biratnagar’s powerplay score. Soon after, in the fourth ball of the seventh over, captain Anil Shah, after facing 14 balls for 4 runs, was caught by George Munsey off Sandeep’s bowling.

Janakpur lost their third wicket in the ninth over. Opener Lahiru Milantha scored 23 runs off 22 balls, hitting 2 fours and 1 six, before being bowled by Sandeep. Losing their top three batters early, Janakpur had managed only 46 runs.

By the end of 10 overs, they reached 61 runs, requiring 75 runs from the final 60 balls to win. The fourth wicket fell as Sanjay Krishnamurthy was dismissed by Surya after scoring 20 runs off 12 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six.

Soon after, Mayan Yadav was dismissed for 4 runs. At 77 runs for 5 wickets, Janakpur needed 59 runs from 37 balls. The match remained competitive.

Janakpur then added 11 runs in the 15th over and 14 runs in the 16th over, bringing the chase back on track. However, the 18th over bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane turned the game around. He conceded just 1 run (a wide) and took two crucial wickets, dismissing Rupesh Singh for 8 and Sangeeth for a duck.

With this, Janakpur needed 23 runs from the last 12 balls. Merchant trapped Aditya Mehta LBW for 1 run, leaving Janakpur with 17 needed off 6 balls. Pratish GC came in to bowl the final over. The second ball was a wide, and on that same delivery, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton was run out by Lokesh Bam after scoring an impressive 41 off 30 balls.

On the third ball, Lalit Rajbanshi hit a boundary, but Janakpur could score only 7 runs in the final over, handing Biratnagar the victory.

Sandeep delivered a brilliant bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his 4 overs. Surya also picked up 2 wickets.

At the TU Cricket Stadium today, Janakpur won the toss and opted to bowl first. Biratnagar posted 135 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs.

Janakpur relied heavily on spin bowling, using spinners from both ends. This strategy restricted Biratnagar to only 40 runs in the first powerplay, during which they lost one wicket.

Opener George Munsey was bowled for 10 runs off Sangeeth’s delivery. At the fall of the first wicket, Biratnagar had scored just 20 runs. Continuous spin attack prevented Biratnagar’s batters from playing freely. Martin Guptill scored 13 runs off 15 balls with one boundary before being caught by Kishor Mahato off Aditya Mehta’s bowling. By then, the team had managed 45 runs.

Soon after, opener Lokesh Bam was caught by Kishor for 28 runs off 26 balls, hitting 2 fours and 1 six, off Sangeeth’s bowling. Losing all top-three batters early, Biratnagar had reached only 55 runs.

Janakpur used spinners continuously until the 10th over, making it difficult for Biratnagar to score. By the end of 10 overs, Biratnagar were under pressure at 58 runs.

After using spin from the first over until the 16th over, Janakpur finally brought in pace bowler Kishor Mahato for the 17th over.

In the 18th over, Rupesh Singh broke the 52-run partnership between Basir Ahmed and Shubham Ranjane. Basir, who scored 36 runs off 35 balls with 3 sixes, departed as the fourth wicket with the team at 107.

On the last ball of that over, Rupesh also dismissed Narayan Joshi, who had scored 2 runs. In the final over, Shubham was run out by wicketkeeper Loftie-Eaton off Rupesh’s delivery. Shubham top-scored for Biratnagar with 37 runs off 29 balls, hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes.

Immediately after, Merchant de Lange was also run out by Rupesh without scoring.

In bowling, Rupesh delivered an economical spell, taking 2 wickets for 12 runs in 2 overs. Sangeeth picked up 2 wickets for 36 runs in his 4 overs, and Aditya Mehta claimed 1 wicket.

With this victory, Biratnagar now have 6 points from 3 matches, while Janakpur suffered their second consecutive defeat. The second match of the day will be played between Sudurpashchim Royals and Karnali Yaks.