Kathmandu: Biratnagar Kings edged Kathmandu Gorkhas by five wickets to register their second consecutive victory, handing Karan KC-led Kathmandu Gorkhas as many defeats in the Nepal Premier League T20 at TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Saturday.

Opting to bowl first, the Kings restricted the Gorkhas to 134-6 and chased down the target in 17.1 overs scoring 135-5.

With the outcome, Kings earned four points winning both matches played while Gorkhas lost the second game in a row from three games played.
Kathmandu made a shaky start losing their top-order batters cheaply and reeling at 29-4 in 8.1 overs. They lost opener Aakash Tripathi (0), Ricardo Vasconcelos (3), Pratik Shrestha (2) and Gerhard Erasmus (10) in quick succession.

Opener Ben Charlesworth resisted the Kings’ attack with 32 off 33 but lacked support from the other end. Coming in at number seven, Aadil Alam played a quickfire unbeaten 48 off 25 — the highest of the innings — striking four boundaries and two sixes. Santosh Yadav added a valuable 26 off 24.

Kings’ Marchant de Lange claimed 2-17 from his four overs, while Subham Ranjane, Surya Tamang and Sandeep Lamichhane picked up a wicket each.

Chasing the moderate target, the Kings’ top order made balanced contributions with the bat including a significant 36 from opener George Munsey. He struck five boundaries and two sixes before being trapped LBW by Shahab Alam with the score at 74-2 in the seventh over.

His opening partner Lokesh Bam contributed 10 runs. Martin Guptill added a valuable 25 off 19, including two boundaries and a six, while Basir Ahamad chipped in with 19 off 17.

Naren Bhatta played a patient 24 off 30 while Shubham Ranjane (6) and captain Sandeep Lamichhane (9) remained not out with the latter finishing the game with a boundary.

Gorkhas bowler Shahab Alam claimed 2-19 from his four overs while Karan KC, Gerhard Erasmus and Santosh Yadav shared a wicket each.
The next NPL fixtures are scheduled for Monday, with Biratnagar Kings locking horns against Janakpur Bolts at 11:00 AM, followed by Karnali Yaks facing Sudurpaschim Royals at 4:00 PM.