Biratnagar Kings Edge Janakpur in Thriller

Biratnagar Kings secured a thrilling two-run victory over Janakpur Bolts in the 12th match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 on 3 November at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Batting first, Biratnagar posted 174/3 in 20 overs, with Lokesh Bam, Imran Sheikh and Andre Russell scoring half-centuries. In reply, Janakpur finished at 172/7 despite an impressive 71-run innings from Saif Hassan.

Andre Russell proved to be the match-winner with an unbeaten 52 and four wickets, including crucial breakthroughs in the final over.

Match Summary: Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts

Match DetailsInformationTournamentNepal Premier League 2026Match12th MatchDate3 November 2026VenueTU International Cricket Ground, KirtipurTossJanakpur Bolts won and elected to fieldBiratnagar Kings174/3 (20 overs)Janakpur Bolts172/7 (20 overs)ResultBiratnagar Kings won by 2 runsPlayer of the MatchAndre Russell

Biratnagar Kings Score 174/3 Against Janakpur Bolts

After winning the toss, Janakpur Bolts captain Harmeet Singh decided to bowl first. Biratnagar Kings suffered an early setback when Shehan Jayasuriya was dismissed for just 1 run.

However, Lokesh Bam and Imran Sheikh built an excellent partnership to bring Biratnagar back into the game. The pair added 107 runs for the second wicket, putting pressure on Janakpur's bowling attack.

Lokesh Bam scored 50 runs from 40 balls, including three fours and three sixes. Imran Sheikh was the top scorer for Biratnagar, contributing 56 runs from 45 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.

Andre Russell then delivered an explosive finish, remaining unbeaten on 52 runs from just 29 balls. His innings included two fours and five sixes, helping Biratnagar reach 174/3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Interestingly, Lokesh Bam, Imran Sheikh and Andre Russell all scored half-centuries in the same innings, making it a historic batting performance for Biratnagar Kings in the NPL.

Biratnagar Kings Batting Scorecard

BatterRunsBallsShehan Jayasuriya13Lokesh Bam5040Imran Sheikh5645Andre Russell52*29Shubham Ranjane7*5Total174/320 overs

Janakpur Bolts Bowling Figures

BowlerOversRunsWicketsMoeen Ali2131Lalit Rajbanshi4300Harmeet Singh4350Rahul Yadav4290James Neesham2280Abhisekh Tiwari4382

Saif Hassan Leads Janakpur's Chase

Chasing 175 runs, Janakpur Bolts faced early pressure after losing wickets during the powerplay. However, Saif Hassan kept the chase alive with an impressive 71 from 48 balls, including two fours and five sixes.

Bishal Shusling supported him with 43 runs from 30 deliveries, while James Neesham added a quick 27 from 15 balls.

Despite their contributions, Janakpur could not complete the chase and finished at 172/7, falling just two runs short of victory.

Janakpur Bolts Batting Scorecard

BatterRunsBallsMoeen Ali1014Trit Raj Das69Saif Hassan7148Anil Kumar Sah02Bishal Shusling4330James Neesham2715Harmeet Singh01Abhisekh Tiwari5*2Lalit Rajbanshi0*0Total172/720 overs

Andre Russell Delivers Match-Winning Bowling Performance

Andre Russell was the biggest difference between the two teams. After scoring an unbeaten half-century, he returned with the ball and picked up four important wickets.

He finished with bowling figures of 4/45 in four overs. His wickets included Moeen Ali, Anil Kumar Sah, Harmeet Singh and the dangerous Saif Hassan.

Angelo Mathews also contributed with two wickets, while Rupesh Singh picked up one wicket.

Biratnagar Kings Bowling Figures

BowlerOversRunsWicketsAngelo Mathews3252Shehan Jayasuriya160Rupesh Singh2211Andre Russell4454Aprajit Poudel4260Sandeep Lamichhane4270Basir Ahamad2160

The Final Over: Andre Russell Defends 13 Runs

Janakpur Bolts needed 13 runs from the final six deliveries to win the match. Andre Russell took responsibility for bowling the crucial over.

He dismissed Harmeet Singh on the second delivery and later removed the well-set Saif Hassan on the final ball. Janakpur managed only 10 runs in the over, finishing at 172/7.

Russell's performance under pressure helped Biratnagar Kings secure a thrilling two-run victory.

Player of the Match: Andre Russell

Andre Russell was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance. He scored an unbeaten 52 from 29 balls and claimed four wickets for 45 runs in four overs. His contribution with both bat and ball proved decisive in Biratnagar Kings' victory.

What Does This Result Mean for Both Teams?

The victory earned Biratnagar Kings two valuable points in the NPL 2026 league stage. Both Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts now have two wins from four matches.

Janakpur Bolts will look to recover from the narrow defeat, while Biratnagar will aim to build on this important victory as the competition progresses.

Arena Pro: Bringing Digital Sports Management to Nepal

Arena Pro is a digital sports management platform designed to simplify tournament organization and sports data management in Nepal.

The platform brings tournament fixtures, team management, player profiles, match results and performance statistics together in one place.

Explore Arena Pro:

• Website: https://arenapro.com.np/

• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apptechnologies.arena

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who won the Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts match?

Biratnagar Kings defeated Janakpur Bolts by 2 runs in the 12th match of NPL 2026.

2. What was Biratnagar Kings' total?

Biratnagar Kings scored 174/3 in 20 overs.

3. What was Janakpur Bolts' total?

Janakpur Bolts scored 172/7 in 20 overs while chasing 175 runs.

4. Who was the Player of the Match?

Andre Russell was named Player of the Match for scoring 52 not out and taking four wickets.

5. How many runs did Saif Hassan score?

Saif Hassan scored 71 runs from 48 balls, including two fours and five sixes.

6. How many wickets did Andre Russell take?

Andre Russell took four wickets for 45 runs in four overs.

7. Who scored half-centuries for Biratnagar Kings?

Lokesh Bam scored 50, Imran Sheikh scored 56 and Andre Russell scored an unbeaten 52.

Conslusion

Biratnagar Kings defeated Janakpur Bolts by two runs in NPL 2026 Match 12. Biratnagar posted 174/3, with half-centuries from Lokesh Bam, Imran Sheikh and Andre Russell. Janakpur fought back with Saif Hassan's 71 and Bishal Shusling's 43 but finished on 172/7. Andre Russell starred with both bat and ball, scoring 52 not out and taking four wickets, including two crucial wickets in the final over.