4
0
0
0
1
0
= 5
Match Details
BK vs PKA, 3rd T20, NPL 2025 live
PKA
167-10(18.5)
Biratnagar Kings won by 53 runs š
BK
(20.0)220-6
+
P'ship : 0(0)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
And thatās a wrap from the third match of the NPL. The Kings have started their campaign with a decisive win, setting an early marker for the tournament. The Avengers would be compelled to look back first at their expensive bowling display and then at their middle order, which succumbed meekly under the pressure of a big chase. The Kings were simply the better team tonight.
Until then, I am Dev, signing off, along with my co-commentator Anab and scorer Sachin. Thatās it from our side for tonightās action. But cricket doesnāt sleep! Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun! Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!
Sandeep Lamichhane (Biratnagar Kings Captain): "I'm extremely happy with the result. It was a match that presented a few challenges, but I'm pleased with how we overcame them. Martin Guptill used his vast experience brilliantly today, and Lokesh Bahadur Bam played a truly exceptional innings. We got off to a fantastic start, and the team is ecstatic to get the win."
Praising Lokesh Bahadur Bam, "Regarding Lokesh, he is undoubtedly a great talent. He has a very bright future ahead of him, and for Nepal Cricket. That was a crucial knock, and I expect to see many more match-winning innings from him as we progress through the season."
On the Bowling Performance, "I'm satisfied with my own bowling efforts today, but more importantly, with the unit's performance overall. The dew factor was certainly present, so my instruction to the bowlers was to keep the plans simple and execute their skills well. They responded excellently and delivered when it mattered."
About the Growth of Nepal Cricket, seeing the growth in Nepal cricket over the past few years is something truly special. Those who have played for the national team will surely be happy with the progress. We have performed well and continue to grow stronger. With this development comes more responsibility, and we, as players, are committed to doing everything we can to take the team forward."
Praising Lokesh Bahadur Bam, "Regarding Lokesh, he is undoubtedly a great talent. He has a very bright future ahead of him, and for Nepal Cricket. That was a crucial knock, and I expect to see many more match-winning innings from him as we progress through the season."
On the Bowling Performance, "I'm satisfied with my own bowling efforts today, but more importantly, with the unit's performance overall. The dew factor was certainly present, so my instruction to the bowlers was to keep the plans simple and execute their skills well. They responded excellently and delivered when it mattered."
About the Growth of Nepal Cricket, seeing the growth in Nepal cricket over the past few years is something truly special. Those who have played for the national team will surely be happy with the progress. We have performed well and continue to grow stronger. With this development comes more responsibility, and we, as players, are committed to doing everything we can to take the team forward."
Lokesh Bam (POTM): "This was an important match for us. We wanted momentum to be on our side in this tournament by winning the first game. I loved batting in the middle with Martin Guptill. Great to have a brilliant partnership with him. Big learning for me as I am a senior pro in this side and I have to take responsibility while batting. I love to open the innings but wherever the team needs me in the batting order, I will bat in that position. Great to play here at the NPL. Loved watching Martin Guptill bat and Sandeep Lamichhane bowl today."
Player of the Match: Lokesh Bam
Maximum Fours: Adam Rossington
Energetic Player of the Match: Kushal Bhurtel
Catch of the Match: Shubham Ranjane
Time for the Post-Match Presentations...
7:19 PM IST, 7:34 PM LOCAL TIME: The Biratnagar Kings have started their campaign with a win in NPL 2025. They have defeated the Avengers by 53 runs. It will surely boost their NRR. A big win. The Pokhara Avengers werenāt just up to the standards, as firstly, their bowling failed to contain, and despite that, they got a platform with that aggressive partnership of Adam and Kusal, but still, their middle order failed to bank on that laid platform and crumbled. It was a commanding performance from the Kings!
Chasing a mammoth 221, the Avengers came out swinging like they were chasing a bus, thanks to a blitzkrieg from Rossington and Bhurtel. However, once that partnership was broken, the innings went from a firework display to a damp squib. The Kingsā bowlers, particularly their skipper, applied the brakes with surgical precision, showing that an early advantage is only useful if you can protect it.
Chasing a mammoth 221, the Avengers came out swinging like they were chasing a bus, thanks to a blitzkrieg from Rossington and Bhurtel. However, once that partnership was broken, the innings went from a firework display to a damp squib. The Kingsā bowlers, particularly their skipper, applied the brakes with surgical precision, showing that an early advantage is only useful if you can protect it.
The Avengers were flying at 88/1 in around 7 overs, but then a flurry of wickets, and the momentum was gone. The skipper, Sandeep, struck twice in the same over to dismiss two big wickets, including Neesham. Then Surya struck to dismiss Thagunna. The Kingsā bowlers decided the fun was over, didn't they? From 88/1, the Avengers suddenly hit turbulence and started falling out of the sky!
Captain Sandeep Lamichhane, showing why he wears the arm-band, delivered a decisive double-strike in an over, dismissing the dangerous James Neesham for a golden duck. That was a big fish! Trit Raj Das followed suit, showing the pressure was mounting. Surya Tamang then joined the party, and just like that, the Avengers were looking down the barrel, collapsing from a position of strength to 103/5.
Abhishek Tiwari tried to fight back, launching a huge six, but Basir Ahamad swiftly dismissed him. Marchant de Lange then delivered the biggest blow, claiming the wicket of the set skipper, Kushal Bhurtel, where the game was virtually killed off. Shubham Ranjane struck again to dismiss Matt Taylor, and the Avengers continued to crumble.
Pratis GC struck to dismiss Aakash Chand, showing that the pressure was too high, and the lower-order batsmen were simply trying to slog their way out. Lamichhane, in particular, was exceptional, leading from the front with a masterful spell. Shubham and GC also picked up two crucial wickets each, highlighting the depth in the Kings' attack.
Douthwaite managed to strike a few late boundaries against de Lange, trying to salvage some pride, but it was de Lange himself who knocked over Douthwaite, dusting the innings in the 19th over. The collective effort from the Kings' bowling attack was truly commendable. Look at the bowling card. All the bowlers bowled well and picked up wickets, showcasing genuine teamwork. They played extremely well with the bat first, and despite that initial enthralling counter-attack from Adam and Kushal, their bowlers did not panic. That calm execution was the difference maker.
Earlier, Pokhara won the toss and elected to field first, citing the potential for dew and a better batting surface later on. A decision they'll surely regret! The Kingsā openers started well, with George Munsey striking a couple of boundaries before smashing it straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder. From thereon, Martin Guptill joined Lokesh Bam, and they were simply bamboozling the Avengers' bowlers. The sixes were raining. They stitched a massive, game-defining 132-run partnership, with both batters reaching brilliant fifties before getting out.
Once both Guptill and Lokesh were batting, it looked certain the Kings would comfortably go past 220. However, when both fell, there was a momentary jitter. But the expressive and explosive cameo of Shubham Ranjane ensured that the Kings reached 220. His strike rate was phenomenal! Basir Ahamad also played a good hand in the middle order to ensure the score remained above par. The Avengers' bowlers looked clueless for most of the innings, and no one really stood up consistently. The Kings became the first team to effortlessly go past the 200-mark in this edition of the NPL.
Commentary