Biratnagar and Chitwan off to flying start at NPL-2

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 19: Biratnagar Kings produced a highest total while Chitwan Rhinos made a strong start in the second season of Nepal Premier League on Tuesday. 

Biratnagar shone with both bat and ball as they opened their NPL-2 campaign with a commanding 53‑run victory over Pokhara Avengers.

Put in to bat first in the third match of the tournament, Biratnagar piled up a mammoth 220 for 6 in their 20 overs — the highest team total in NPL history. They surpassed their previous best of 193 against Lumbini in the inaugural season.

In reply, Pokhara were skittled out for 167 in 18.5 overs. Skipper Kushal Bhurtel tried to keep his side in the hunt with a blistering 59 off 31 balls, but lacked support from the rest of the line‑up. Opener Adam Rossington chipped in with a quickfire 39 off 21 balls, striking five fours and two sixes. Together, Rossington and Bhurtel stitched a 76‑run stand for the second wicket.

Once Rossington fell in the seventh over, Pokhara’s innings unravelled. James Neesham and Trit Raj Das both departed for ducks, undone by the spin of Biratnagar captain Sandeep Lamichhane. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals, with Dan Douthwaite (29 off 20) and Abhisekh Tiwari (11 off 9) the only other batters to reach double figures.

Biratnagar’s bowlers shared the spoils. Marchant de Lange, Pratis GC, Shubham Ranjane and Lamichhane bagged two wickets apiece, while Basir Ahamad and Surya Tamang chipped in with one each.Earlier, Biratnagar’s record total was built on half‑centuries from opener Lokesh Bam and New Zealand star Martin Guptill. After losing George Munsey cheaply for 10 in the second over, Bam and Guptill put on a 132‑run partnership for the second wicket — the biggest in NPL history.

Guptill smashed three fours and five sixes in his 35‑ball 61 before falling to Sagar Dhakal, caught by Bhurtel in the 14th over. Two overs later, Bam also perished to Bhurtel after a sparkling 72 off 48 balls, studded with one four and seven sixes.

The late fireworks came from Shubham Ranjane, who blasted 38 off just 16 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, and Basir Ahamad, who struck 23 off 13 balls with a four and a six. Narayan Joshi remained unbeaten on 11 to see Biratnagar past the 220 mark.

For Pokhara, Matt Taylor picked up two wickets, while Dhakal, Bhurtel and Akash Chand claimed one each.

Chitwan Rhinos avenge Karnali 

Chitwan Rhinos opened their Nepal Premier League Season Two campaign with a commanding five-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks in the first match at TU Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Chitwan chased down 167-run victory target with seven balls to spare. The win was sweet revenge after two defeats to Karnali last season.

Opener Deepak Bohara laid the foundation with 42 off 36 balls, striking six fours and a six. Despite losing partners David Malan (6) and Dev Khanal (2) cheaply, Bohara steadied the innings with a 38-run stand alongside Ravi Bopara. 

The English all-rounder played a blistering knock of 52 off 35 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. He added 34 runs with skipper Kushal Malla (20) and then 52 with compatriot Saif Zaib. Zaib hammered 28 off 16 balls, including four sixes, before falling late. Bopara departed in the 19th over with six runs needed, but Arjun Saud (8*) guided Chitwan home.

For Karnali, Captain Sompal Kami claimed two wickets, while Younis Singh and Yuvraj Khatri picked up one apiece.

Earlier, Karnali posted 166 all out, powered by Indian debutant Priyank Panchal’s explosive 90 off 48 balls, featuring seven fours and six sixes. He shared a 61-run opening stand with Max O’Dowd (20) and added 63 with Mark Watt (16). 

Pawan Sarraf provided late fireworks, smashing 27 off 16 balls with three sixes, including back-to-back maximums in the penultimate over. Ravi Bopara dismissed Panchal in the 16th over, while Sohail Tanvir, Zaib and Bopara took a wicket each as Chitwan restricted Karnali in the death overs.