Lumbini Lions Secure NPL Playoff Spot as Biratnagar Kings Exit

Lumbini Lions secured a crucial victory in their Nepal Premier League fixture on Saturday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The result finalized the playoff lineup for the tournament while officially ending the qualification hopes of Biratnagar Kings. Lumbini Lions captain Rohit Paudel had initially won the toss and chosen to bowl first. Batting first, Biratnagar Kings scored 166 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs, presenting Lumbini Lions with a target of 167 runs. Biratnagar top-scorer Charith Asalanka struck a half-century, accumulating 64 runs off 43 deliveries with one boundary and six sixes. Among the other batters, Shubham Ranjane scored 31 runs, while opening batsman Lokesh Bam added 15 runs off 17 balls. Biratnagar experienced a setback during their innings when opener Imran Sheikh was forced to retire hurt after scoring 24 runs. In the bowling attack for Lumbini Lions, Kishore Mahato and Ruben Trumpelmann were among the wicket-takers, each taking one wicket during the innings. Before the match, Lumbini occupied second position in the league standings with nine points from six matches, whereas Biratnagar sat in fifth place with six points from the same number of fixtures.