By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Dec 06, 2025 12:02 PM • 30 views
KIRTIPUR — If this was a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, the Biratnagar Kings didn’t just learn their lines—they rewrote the script. In a brutal display of power-hitting that turned a competitive chase into a leisurely stroll, the Biratnagar Kings demolished the table-topping Sudur Paschim Royals by six wickets at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Saturday. The victory, sealed with a staggering 49 balls to spare, vaulted the Kings into second place, setting up a tantalizing rematch with the Royals in Qualifier 1. The architect of the carnage was a ruthless opening partnership between Faf du Plessis and Sam Heazlett, who stripped the Royals’ bowling attack of its dignity inside the powerplay. Chasing a modest target of 148, the Kings raced to the finish line in just 11.5 overs, finishing on 150-4 and sending a thunderous warning to the rest of the league.
The Faf and Heazlett Show
Chasing 148 on a surface that had earlier demanded patience, Biratnagar’s openers chose violence. Faf du Plessis, looking imperious in his NPL stint, and Sam Heazlett launched an all-out assault that effectively killed the contest within the first six overs.
Du Plessis was the aggressor-in-chief, blasting a whirlwind 50 off just 20 balls. His innings was a masterclass in clean striking, studded with five boundaries and four maximums. At the other end, Heazlett matched him shot for shot, compiling a blistering 51 off 27 deliveries. Together, they stitched a 97-run opening stand in just 7.1 overs, scoring at a rate that left the Royals shell-shocked.
"Our opening partnership ebbed and flowed [in previous games], but today we decided to try and take them down," du Plessis, who was named Player of the Match, said post-game. "It is always important to get a good start... glad to execute the plans."
Martin Guptill kept the foot on the gas with a rapid cameo of 22 off nine balls, including three towering sixes, ensuring there would be no mid-innings stutter. Although the Kings lost four wickets in the frantic dash to the target—including two to Abinash Bohara (2-38)—the damage had long been done.
Lamichhane Spins a Web
Before the fireworks from the bat, it was Sandeep Lamichhane who set the tone with the ball. After opting to bowl first, the Kings’ skipper led from the front, delivering a miserly spell of 3-20 from his four overs. The Royals never truly found their rhythm. Openers Binod Bhandari (15) and Josh Brown (24) threatened briefly but failed to convert their starts. Lamichhane’s introduction halted the Royals' momentum, as he removed key batters including Harmeet Singh and the dangerous Ishan Pandey (38). Pandey and Aarif Sheikh (45* off 32) tried to rebuild, dragging the Royals to a respectable 147-6. Sheikh’s late hitting provided a glimmer of hope, but on a good batting deck, the total proved woefully inadequate against a Kings lineup in this mood.
Table Implications and What’s Next
The result creates a fascinating dynamic for the playoffs. Despite the loss, Sudur Paschim Royals finish the league stage at the top of the table. However, their aura of invincibility has been dented by the very team they must face next. For Biratnagar, this was a "must-win" to avoid the Eliminator and secure two cracks at the final. "We thought to restrict them to 140... credit to the boys, they took the challenge," a delighted Lamichhane said. The two sides will meet again on Tuesday in Qualifier 1, where the stakes will be significantly higher. If Saturday’s demolition job was anything to go by, the Royals have plenty of homework to do. The Kings haven’t just arrived at the playoffs; they’ve kicked the door down.
