It wasn’t pretty, but it was perfect for Biratnagar Kings and Sudurpaschim Royals at the TU International Cricket Stadium on Monday. Both Kings and Royals produced a masterclass in a low-total defence, stunning the defending champions Janakpur Bolts and Karnali Yaks, respectively, to extend their winning streak to three matches.
On a pitch that demanded patience, the Kings’ bowlers turned a modest target of 136 runs into a mountain, choking the Bolts’ chase with relentless pressure to stay undefeated in the competition. Kathmandu Post
Match result (score summary)
9th Match, Kirtipur, November 24, 2025 — Nepal Premier League
Biratnagar Kings (BIK) 135/7 (20 ov)
Janakpur Bolts (JAB) 126/9 (20 ov)
Biratnagar won by 9 runs.
Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane (BIK) — 4/11. ESPNcricinfo
Biratnagar innings highlights (selected):
- Lokesh Bam c Krishnamurthi b Cooray 28 (26)
- Basir Ahamad b Rupesh Singh 36 (35)
- Shubham Ranjane run out 37 (29)
Extras: 7
Total: 135/7 (20 ov). ESPNcricinfo
Janakpur innings highlights (selected):
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton run out 41 (30)
- Lahiru Milantha b Lamichhane 23 (22)
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi c Joshi b Surya Tamang 20 (12)
Extras: 5
Total: 126/9 (20 ov). ESPNcricinfo
Bowling stars (selected):
- Sandeep Lamichhane (BIK) 4–0–11–4 — key to defending 136.
- Surya Tamang (BIK) 4–0–20–2.
- Rupesh Singh (JAB) 2–0–12–2 (earlier bowled vital overs). ESPNcricinfo
In the other fixture at TU Stadium, Sudurpaschim Royals defended 139/9 and bundled Karnali Yaks out for 94, a season-low total, to win by 45 runs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee starred with an all-round display: he top-scored with 39 off 28 and returned figures of 4 for 23, including three wickets in the powerplay, to rip through the Yaks’ top order. Kathmandu Post — Airee report
Karnali were never able to recover after early losses; Pawan Sarraf top-scored for the Yaks with 27 off 26, but the rest of the lineup offered little resistance as Sudurpaschim completed a clinical victory to remain unbeaten alongside Biratnagar at the top of the points table. Kathmandu Post
Biratnagar Kings’ Sandeep Lamichhane took a four-wicket haul for 11 runs in four overs to help the team defeat Janakpur Bolts and register their third straight win of the tournament. — Angad Dhakal / The Kathmandu Post Kathmandu Post
ESPNcricinfo scorecard
Photo: Courtesy of Nepal Premier League — Sudurpaschim’s campaign continued with a third straight win on Monday. Kathmandu Post
Share Your Thoughts
- What impact could Biratnagar and Sudurpaschim’s perfect starts have on the rest of the tournament?
- Do you think the TU pitch is favouring spinners more than expected — should teams change their strategies?
- How important was Sandeep Lamichhane’s spell in shaping the Janakpur chase?
- What can Karnali and Janakpur do differently to regain momentum in the group stage?
- Which upcoming fixture matters most for the playoff race and why?
Sources: Kathmandu Post, Kathmandu Post — Airee match report, ESPNcricinfo — Full scorecard