Biratnagar vs Pokhara NPL 2026 Match Result: Lamichhane’s 6/27 and Hat-Trick Power Kings to 4-Wicket Win

Biratnagar Kings kept their Nepal Premier League 2026 playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers in Match 22 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Thursday, November 12. Chasing 133, Biratnagar reached 136 for six in 19.2 overs, winning with four balls to spare, after captain Sandeep Lamichhane produced a spell of six for 27, including the first hat-trick of NPL Season 3.

Lamichhane’s spell was the story of the match. Pokhara were bowled out for 132 in 17.5 overs despite a brilliant 84 off 47 balls from Yuvraj Samra, as the Biratnagar captain took six wickets in three overs, including a hat-trick, to trigger a collapse in which Pokhara lost their last five wickets for just ten runs. Biratnagar’s chase was far from smooth, with the Kings slipping to 105 for six, but Isuru Udana’s unbeaten 25 off 12 balls and Shehan Jayasuriya’s unbeaten 17 off 14 saw them home.

The result lifts Biratnagar to fourth place with six points from six matches, with three wins and three defeats, keeping them firmly in the playoff race. Pokhara, meanwhile, became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention after suffering their fifth defeat in six matches.

Biratnagar vs Pokhara NPL 2026 Match 22 Score Summary

Pokhara won the toss and elected to bat first, but were bowled out for 132 in 17.5 overs. Yuvraj Samra top-scored with 84 off 47 balls, hitting seven fours and five sixes, while Dhananjaya Lakshan made 22 off 15 and Sunny BK contributed 12 off 11. No other Pokhara batter reached double figures as Lamichhane ran through the innings.

Biratnagar’s reply of 136 for six in 19.2 overs was built on Basir Ahamad’s 37 off 39 balls and Lokesh Bam’s 33 off 27, before Udana and Jayasuriya finished the job in an unbroken 31-run stand off 15 balls. Ramesh Mendis took two for 29 and Kushal Bhurtel two for 21 for Pokhara, but their total was always too small to defend.

Team	Score	Top scorer	Best bowling
Pokhara Avengers	132 all out (17.5 overs)	Yuvraj Samra 84 (47)	Sandeep Lamichhane 6/27
Biratnagar Kings	136/6 (19.2 overs)	Basir Ahamad 37 (39)	Ramesh Mendis 2/29, Kushal Bhurtel 2/21

Pokhara Avengers Batting: Samra’s 84 in Vain

Yuvraj Samra continued his outstanding form with 84 off 47 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 178.72. It was his second big innings in as many matches, following his century off 45 balls against Karnali Yaks in Pokhara’s previous game. Samra dominated the Biratnagar attack and had Pokhara well placed, but his dismissal in the 15th over triggered a collapse that cost Pokhara the match.

After Samra fell to Lamichhane, Pokhara lost their last five wickets for just ten runs. Dhananjaya Lakshan’s 22 off 15 balls was the only other contribution of note, while Sunny BK made 12 and the rest of the batting line-up managed 12 runs between them. Pokhara were bowled out for 132 with 13 balls of their innings unused.

Batter	Runs	Balls	Fours	Sixes
Yuvraj Samra	84	47	7	5
Dhananjaya Lakshan	22	15	1	1
Sunny BK	12	11	0	1
Bipin Khatri	5	12	0	0
Arjun Gharti (wk)	5	10	0	0

Sandeep Lamichhane Six-Wicket Haul and Hat-Trick

Sandeep Lamichhane’s four overs changed the match completely. The Biratnagar captain finished with six for 27, the first five-wicket haul of NPL Season 3 and the second-best bowling figures in NPL history. He took all six of his wickets within three overs, including the first hat-trick of the season.

The hat-trick came in the 15th over. Samra hit Lamichhane for a six and a four off the first two balls of the over, but the leg-spinner hit back by dismissing Samra himself, then trapping Pokhara captain Chamika Karunaratne and Kiran Thagunna leg-before-wicket off consecutive deliveries. Lamichhane also dismissed Arjun Gharti, Sunny BK and Ramesh Mendis, and his spell turned a Pokhara total that had been heading past 160 into just 132. It was a remarkable return for a bowler who had managed only one wicket across his previous five matches in the tournament.

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets
Sandeep Lamichhane (c)	4	27	6
Angelo Mathews	3	22	1
Charith Asalanka	4	28	1
Rupesh Singh	0.5	2	1

Biratnagar Kings Batting: Udana Finishes the Chase

Biratnagar’s chase of 133 was harder than it should have been. Lokesh Bam made 33 off 27 balls and Basir Ahamad top-scored with 37 off 39, but the Kings kept losing wickets: Imran Sheikh fell for ten, Charith Asalanka for a duck, Angelo Mathews for eight and Pratis GC for a first-ball duck as Biratnagar slipped to 105 for six.

Isuru Udana then turned the match in Biratnagar’s favour with an unbeaten 25 off just 12 balls, including four fours and a six, while Shehan Jayasuriya finished 17 not out off 14 balls. The pair added an unbroken 31-run stand to take Biratnagar to 136 for six in 19.2 overs, winning with four balls remaining. Kushal Bhurtel was Pokhara’s most economical bowler with two for 21 in four overs, including a maiden, while Ramesh Mendis took two for 29.

Batter	Runs	Balls	Fours	Sixes
Basir Ahamad	37	39	2	2
Lokesh Bam (wk)	33	27	2	2
Isuru Udana	25*	12	4	1
Shehan Jayasuriya	17*	14	2	0
Imran Sheikh	10	9	2	0

Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane was named Player of the Match for his six for 27, including the first hat-trick of NPL Season 3. Without his spell, Samra’s 84 would have carried Pokhara to a total well beyond Biratnagar’s reach.

Key Turning Points in Biratnagar vs Pokhara

• Samra’s dismissal: At 122 for five in the 15th over, Pokhara were heading for 160. Lamichhane’s dismissal of Samra for 84 started the collapse that cost them 28 runs and five wickets.
• The hat-trick: Karunaratne and Thagunna falling lbw to consecutive balls completed the first hat-trick of the season and left Pokhara’s tail with nothing to defend.
• Biratnagar’s mid-order wobble: The Kings lost four wickets and slipped to 105 for six, giving Pokhara a real chance of defending 132.
• Udana’s counter-attack: Isuru Udana’s unbeaten 25 off 12 balls, including four fours and a six, ended Pokhara’s hopes and took Biratnagar home with four balls to spare.

What the Result Means for the NPL 2026 Points Table

Biratnagar’s win moves them up to fourth place with six points from six matches, with three wins and three defeats, and keeps their playoff hopes alive with the top four teams from the eight-team round-robin league qualifying for the playoffs. Their net run rate remains a concern after a series of close games, but this victory, built on their captain’s record spell, gives them momentum at the right time.

Pokhara, meanwhile, are the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. Five defeats in six matches leave them rooted near the foot of the table, and their season will end with the league stage despite Samra’s outstanding individual form. Their bowling kept them in this match, but 132 was never enough once Lamichhane had done his damage.

What’s Next in NPL 2026

Biratnagar’s next match is a chance to push further into the top four, while Pokhara play out their remaining league fixtures with pride at stake. The second match of the day, Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions, follows at the same venue. Biratnagar will need their batting to support Lamichhane’s bowling if they are to hold their place in the top four.

Biratnagar vs Pokhara NPL 2026 FAQs

Who won Biratnagar vs Pokhara in NPL 2026 Match 22?

Biratnagar Kings won by four wickets, chasing down Pokhara’s 132 with 136 for six in 19.2 overs.

Who was the Player of the Match in Biratnagar vs Pokhara?

Biratnagar captain Sandeep Lamichhane was named Player of the Match for his six for 27, including the first hat-trick of NPL Season 3.

Are Pokhara Avengers eliminated from NPL 2026?

Yes. The defeat was Pokhara’s fifth in six matches, making them the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention in NPL 2026.

Follow every NPL 2026 match in our NPL 2026 today match guide, and catch up on the other results in our Sudurpaschim vs Janakpur match result and Chitwan vs Kathmandu match result reports.