Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Biratnagar Kings registered their second win of the Nepal Premier League with a comfortable five-wicket victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas at the TU International Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The win lifted Biratnagar to the top of the points table, while Kathmandu slumped to their second consecutive defeat after winning the first match.
Batting first, Kathmandu posted 134 for the loss of six wickets. Biratnagar chased down the target with five wickets and 17 balls remaining.
Kathmandu got off to a shaky start as Aakash Tripathi fell for a duck in the first over. Although his opening partner Ben Charlesworth steadied the innings with 32 off 33 balls, wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Ricardo Vasconcelos (3), Pratik Shrestha (2), and Lokesh Bam (10) departed cheaply. Santosh Yadav contributed 26 before Mohammad Aadil Alam revived Kathmandu’s hopes with a blistering unbeaten 48 off 25 balls.
Biratnagar’s bowlers bowled tightly to keep the opposition in check throughout the innings. Marchant de Lange claimed two wickets, while Shubham Ranjane, Surya Tamang, and captain Sandeep Lamichhane picked up one apiece.
Biratnagar made a positive start in the chase, putting on 21 runs for the first wicket. Although opener Lokesh Bam fell for 14 off 10 balls, his partner George Munsey blasted 36 off just 16 deliveries to maintain early momentum. Martin Guptill added a brisk 25 from 19 balls, while Naren Bhatta chipped in with 24 off 20. In the end, Ranjane (6*) and Lamichhane (9*) guided the Kings home comfortably.
Shahab Alam took two wickets for Kathmandu, while captain Karan KC, Gerhard Erasmus, and Santosh Yadav claimed one each.
Earlier in the day, Karnali Yaks thrashed Lumbini Lions by nine wickets. Mark Watt smashed 114 off just 44 balls—the first century of the new NPL season—as Karnali romped home with 46 balls remaining.
