That's it from our end. The Kings are back in winning ways, but the Yaks have to rejig their plans. Nevertheless, the action will continue in this NPL tomorrow as well. We will see you then. But switch tabs as pretty cricketing action is going on.
See you around. This is Arjun Bhalla, signing off for Manan Mehta, Bishal Mandal and Ghanendra Singh Thakur!
Sandeep Lamichhane (Biratnagar Kings Captain): "We all know what Basir can do. He can single-handedly turn the tables around, and he did that exactly. He did it on the biggest stage.
We weren't nervous at all. A big thanks to Guptill and our head coach. It takes a lot to do so much despite not playing.
I know I did hit a boundary, and I can do the hitting, but that doesn't mean I would come over our batters. Narayan played a brilliant hand in there. You know such chases are about small margins; a boundary here and there can change the tempo.
Thanks to everyone for cheering for us."
Basir Ahmad (POTM): "I want to thank the almighty. I am very grateful for this award. I want to dedicate this award to my mother.
My captain keeps supporting me and there is a positive environment in the change room. I felt like if I am out there in the middle for sometime, I will do it for the team. I just needed someone to stay with me. My selection for the Nepal team lies in the hands of God."
Player of the Match: Basir Ahmad
Max Fours of the Match: Priyank Panchal
Energetic Player of the Match: Narayan Joshi
Catch of the Match: Deepak Dumre
Time for the post-match presentations...
7:16 PM IST, 7:31 PM Local Time: The Kings are back in the win column. The game was long gone, but Basir Ahmad pulled a victory out from the jaws of defeat. Only the second time, a team has chased down a target of 160 runs or more this season. After losing the last game, the Biratnagar Kings have returned to winning ways. The Karnali Yaks lost a close game here in Kirtipur!!!
The chase began on a dull note for the Kings, as they lost their top three batters inside the powerplay without giving the scorer much trouble. Basir Ahmad and Sahil Patel then joined the force together as they revived the innings with a 34-ball stand for the fourth wicket. Gulshan Jha had Patel's number, and he had Marchant de Lange in that very over.
As things were turning gloomy for the Kings, Basir and Narayan Joshi came together and scored 69 runs together for the sixth wicket. This stand twisted the tables as it came at a fiery rate. Pratish GC also came out to smoke a boundary, but went back home in the penultimate over.
Sandeep Lamichanne walked out and started with a boundary. In the final over, the equation was 10 needed off it. Basir snapped a double and a single on the first two balls, but Lamichanne nudged a brace before returning the strike to the recognised batter. With four needing off the last two balls, Basir Ahmad tonked a maximum to help the Kings get past the winning line! During the course of the chase, Basir notched his first half-century of the season.