Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Biratnagar Kings earned its second win in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), defeating Chitwan Rhinos by 51 runs at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Friday.
Batting first, Biratnagar scored 181 runs for the loss of five wickets. In reply, Chitwan Rhinos was out for 130 runs, losing six wickets.
Although Biratnagar made a slow start with the bat, middle-order batters Basir Ahmad and Rajesh Pulami played some big shots to take Biratnagar’s score above 180. Four of Biratnagar’s batters were back in the dugout in 6.2 overs with just 33 runs on the board. Opener Lokesh Bam went out for a duck, Dipak Bohora scored 4, and Scott Edwards was also out for a duck, while Nicholas Kirton fell for 8. Martin Guptill scored 45 off 35 balls. However, Ahmad played an attractive knock of 68 off 44 balls, which included four fours and as many sixes, and Rajesh Pulami contributed 33 off 20 balls.
Rijan Dhakal took two wickets for Chitwan, while Sohail Tanvir, Basil Hameed, and Kushal Malla claimed a wicket each for Chitwan.
Amar Routela top-scored for Chitwan with a 29-ball 42, while Santosh Karki contributed 28. Captain Kushal Malla and Ravi Bopara hit 25 and 20 runs, respectively. Other Chitwan batters failed to reach double digits.
Sandeep Lamichhane claimed two wickets, while Chris Sole, Basir Ahmad, Subash Bhandari, and Lokesh Bam contributed a wicket each for Biratnagar.
Two matches of NPL will be played on Saturday. In the first match, Pokhara Avengers take on Kathmandu Gurkhas in a must-win clash. Similarly, Chitwan Rhinos will play against Janakpur Bolts, which has already qualified for the playoffs, in the second match.
