Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Lumbini Lions and Biratnagar Kings face off in Qualifier 2 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Thursday, with the winner booking the second spot in Saturday’s final.
Sudurpashchim have already sealed their place in the final after hammering Biratnagar by 77 runs in Qualifier 1. Biratnagar now have a second shot at reaching the final, while Lumbini arrive with momentum after a confident victory against Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Eliminator.
Lumbini Lions are led by national team captain Rohit Paudel, while Biratnagar Kings are captained by star leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Both sides enter the match driven by contrasting paths—Biratnagar looking to recover from their Qualifier 1 setback, and Lumbini riding high after their Eliminator win.
Lumbini hold the psychological edge heading into the contest. In the league stage, they defeated Biratnagar by five wickets by successfully chasing 145 in 17.4 overs. The Lions will look to reproduce that batting composure, with Captain Paudel expected to anchor the innings.
Biratnagar, meanwhile, will rely heavily on their high-profile batting lineup, which includes Sam Heazlett, Martin Guptill and explosive hitter Faf du Plessis. Their performance could define Biratnagar’s chances in the knockout fixture.
Sandeep Lamichhane leads Biratnagar’s attack with his wicket-taking ability, especially in the middle overs. For Lumbini, Sher Malla has been in sharp form and will be central to containing Biratnagar’s power hitters.
Head-to-Head
Both sides have met twice in the NPL so far. In the 2025 season, Lumbini beat Biratnagar by five wickets in the league stage. In the 2024 season, however, Lumbbi fell two short of Biratnagar’s score of 193.
