By Sachit Subba • CLUB CRICKET • Nov 24, 2025 09:44 AM • 36 views
KIRTIPUR — On a surface that demanded patience over power, the Biratnagar Kings proved that low totals can sometimes produce the highest drama. Defending a modest 135, the Kings strangled the Janakpur Bolts through a masterclass in spin bowling led by captain Sandeep Lamichhane, securing a thrilling 9-run victory in Match 9 of the Nepal Premier League.
The Narrative: A Tale of Two Halves (and One Spell)
For the first hour of the chase, spectators at the TU International Cricket Ground could have been forgiven for thinking they were watching a replay. At the 10-over mark, the scorecards were nearly mirror images: Biratnagar had been 58/3, and Janakpur sat comfortably poised at 61/3. Both teams lost their Powerplay aggressors early—George Munsey (10) for the Kings and Aasif Sheikh (13) for the Bolts—forcing a period of deep consolidation. The "copy-paste" strategy of risk-averse accumulation seemed set to take the game deep. However, cricket is often decided by the team that blinks first, or in this case, the team that bites hardest. While Biratnagar found a way to accelerate late, Janakpur ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Sandeep Lamichhane.
The Turning Point: The Captain's Spell
The difference between the two sides was ultimately the 24 balls delivered by the Kings' skipper. Lamichhane's figures of 4-0-11-4 were not just economical; they were match-defining. Introduced to control the middle phase, Lamichhane struck with lethal precision. He removed the dangerous Lahiru Milantha (23) just as he looked to shift gears, and then proceeded to dismantle the Bolts' middle order. His ability to extract turn and bounce on a gripping surface meant that new batters were constantly under pressure, unable to rotate the strike, let alone find the boundary.
Biratnagar's Gritty Recovery
Earlier in the day, the Kings' innings was held together by a vital 52-run stand between Basir Ahamad and Shubham Ranjane. Basir Ahamad (36 off 35): Played the anchor role perfectly, absorbing the early pressure after Martin Guptill fell cheaply for 13. Shubham Ranjane (37 off 29): Provided the late impetus. His aggression in the 18th and 19th overs was the catalyst that propelled the Kings from a sub-par 110 to a fighting 135, which proved to be the exact margin of victory.
The Chase: Loftie-Eaton Runs Out of Partners
Janakpur's chase never truly recovered from the middle-overs choke. While Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton played a valiant hand, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 29 balls, he was left stranded at the non-striker's end as wickets tumbled around him. The equation boiled down to 25 runs needed off the final 3 overs with 5 wickets in hand—usually a walk in the park in T20 cricket. But the pressure of the dot balls accumulated by the Kings' spinners (Surya Tamang and Lamichhane) forced the Bolts into panic. They lost 4 wickets for just 19 runs in the final death phase, crumbling under the weight of the asking rate.
What It Means
With this victory, Biratnagar Kings solidify their spot at the top of the table, showing they can win ugly as well as pretty. For Janakpur Bolts, it is a bitter pill to swallow; they did the hard work with the ball but lacked the tactical awareness to navigate a tricky chase, falling victim to their own passivity in the middle overs.
