Kirtipur, November 18, 2025 – Biratnagar Kings roared to their maiden victory in the Nepal Premier League 2025, demolishing Pokhara Avengers by a massive 53-run margin in a high-scoring Day-Night thriller at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Powered by a brutal 72 off 48 balls from opener Lokesh Bam and a destructive 61 off just 35 from Martin Guptill, Biratnagar posted a mammoth 220/6 – the highest total of the tournament so far. Pokhara Avengers never recovered from early blows and were bundled out for 167 in 18.5 overs despite a fighting 59 from captain Kushal Bhurtel.
Explosive Batting Sets Up Massive Total
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Biratnagar lost George Munsey early, but what followed was pure carnage. Lokesh Bam, playing his first match of the season, took the Pokhara bowling apart with sublime timing and power, racing to 72 (8 fours, 4 sixes) before holing out in the 16th over.
The game changed completely when Martin Guptill joined Bam. The New Zealand legend smashed 61 off 35 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes), adding 132 runs in just 75 balls for the second wicket – the highest partnership of NPL 2025 so far.
Late cameos from Shubham Ranjane (38 off 16) and Basir Ahamad (23 off 13) propelled Biratnagar past 220, a total that always looked beyond Pokhara on a slightly two-paced surface.
Clinical Bowling Display Seals Dominant Victory
Chasing 221, Pokhara Avengers lost Dinesh Kharel early and although Adam Rossington (39 off 21) and Kushal Bhurtel (59 off 31) added 76 brisk runs for the second wicket, the required rate kept climbing.
Captain Sandeep Lamichhane turned the game on its head with two wickets in the 8th over – trapping James Neesham lbw first ball and castling Trit Raj Das next ball. From 89/1, Pokhara slumped to 89/4 in a blink.
Marchant de Lange (2/48) and Pratis GC (2/29) kept striking at regular intervals, while Shubham Ranjane and Basir Ahamad chipped in with crucial wickets. Dan Douthwaite’s fighting 29 off 20 was too little too late as Pokhara were all out for 167 with 7 balls remaining.
