Sandeep Lamichhane Takes Six and a Hat-Trick as Biratnagar Win

Biratnagar Kings kept their Nepal Premier League playoff hopes alive on Thursday with a four-wicket win over Pokhara Avengers at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Captain Sandeep Lamichhane took six wickets for 27 runs in four overs, including a hat-trick, as Pokhara were bowled out for 132. Biratnagar reached 136 for 6 in 19.2 overs, winning with four balls to spare.

Lamichhane runs through Pokhara

Pokhara won the toss and chose to bat in Match 22 of the third NPL season. Opener Yuvraj Samra held the innings together with 84 off 47 balls, with seven fours and five sixes. Dhananjaya Lakshan made 22 and Sani Bk 12, and no other Pokhara batter reached double figures.

Lamichhane did the damage. His hat-trick came in the 15th over, removing Samra, Chamika Karunaratne and Kiran Thagunna in three balls, according to the league match report. He finished with 6 for 27, the first six-wicket haul of Season 3, and was named Player of the Match. Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka and Rupesh Singh took one wicket each.

The chase and what it means

Basir Ahamad top-scored in the chase with 37, Lokesh Bam made 33, Isuru Udana finished the job with 25 not out, and Shehan Jayasuriya added 17. Kushal Bhurtel and Ramesh Mendis took two wickets each for Pokhara.

Biratnagar have now won three and lost three of their six matches, and they stay in the playoff race. Pokhara have lost five of six, and Radio Nepal reported they are out of the playoff race, the first team eliminated this season.

A one-man innings at the other end

Samra's 84 was more than half of Pokhara's total. Once Lamichhane removed him as the first wicket of the hat-trick, the innings folded fast, and Pokhara were all out with 13 balls of their 20 overs unused. The league match report called Lamichhane's 6 for 27 the first six-wicket haul of Season 3, and Gorkha Sports noted it was also the first hat-trick of the season. Biratnagar lost six wickets in the chase but never fell behind the rate, and Udana's unbeaten 25 closed the match out in the final over. A second NPL match was scheduled for later on Thursday, Karnali Yaks against Lumbini Lions at 5:00 p.m. local time, Radio Nepal reported.