Biratnagar Kings vs Pokhara Avengers, NPL 2025 Highlights: BIK Take Down POA By 53 Runs To Start Campaign In Style

Hello and Good Afternoon to all those joining us today for the live coverage of Nepal Premier League's match number 3 between Biratnagar Kings and Pokhara Avengers at the Tribhuvan Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur. The match is set to begin from 3:45PM (IST) onwards.

The Chitwan Rhinos are currently taking on Karnali Yaks in what is the first match of the day. Don't miss a moment and catch all the live action here.

Reigning champions Janakpur Bolts suffered a 5-wicket loss against Kathmandu Gorkhas yesterday in match 1 of the Nepal Premier League 2025. The Bolts posted 130 on the board, through Aasif Sheikh's half-century, Mayan Yadav and Lahiru Samarakoon's quickfire knocks of 34 and 22 respectively.

The Gorkhas, in response, chased down the total within 18 overs with Akash Tripathi (39), Ben Charlesworth (46), Milind Kumar (19) and John Simpson (13) leading the charge.

JKB: 130/6 (20)

KMG: 131/5 (18)

Biratnagar Kings: Sandeep Lamichhane (C), Basir Ahamad, Lokesh Bam (WK), Subash Bhandari, Naren Bhatta, Marchant de Lange, Faf du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Pratish GC, Sam Heazlett, Narayan Joshi, Shrawan Kisku, George Munsey, Ayush Neupane, Sahil Patel (wk), Shankar Rana, Shubham Ranjane and Surya Tamang

Pokhara Avengers: Kushal Bhurtel (c), Aakash Chand, Rohit Chand, Sandeep Chhetri, Trit Raj Das, Dan Douthwaite, Sagar Dhakal, Dinesh Kharel, Bipin Khatri, Arjun Kumal, James Neesham, Krishna Poudel, Raymon Reifer, Adam Rossington (wk), Matthew Taylor, Kiran Thagunna, Abhisekh Tiwari

Basir Ahamad (BIK): 7 matches, 181 runs, 36.2 avg and 123.12 strike rate

Martin Guptill (BIK): 6 matches, 137 runs, 22.83 avg and 120.17 strike rate

Dinesh Kharel (POA): 7 matches, 162 runs, 27 avg and 114.08 strike rate

Raymon Reifer (POA): 7 matches, 146 runs, 36.5 avf and 107.35 strike rate

Pratis GC (BIK): 6 matches, 9 wickets and 6.68 economy rate

Basir Ahmed (BIK): 6 matches, 6 wickets and 6.47 economy rate

Bipin Khatri (POA): 7 matches, 9 wickets and 7.39 economy rate

Sagar Dhakal (POA): 7 matches, 5 wickets and 6.56 economy rate

The news is out! Pokhara Avengers won the toss and elected to field first in the Match 3 of the Nepal Premier League 2025.

The match has finally began and both the openers have given a blistering start to BIK's innings with and six and boundary in the first over. It looking like a high scoring affair on a good wicket.

The first wicket has fallen in the form of opening batter George Munsey, who departed for a score of 10 off 6. Kiwi cricketing legend Martin Guptill has come out to bat and the crowd has welcomed him with plenty of cheers.

Martin Guptill and Lokesh Bam are looking on fire at the moment. The former Kiwi batter is smashing at a daunting strike rate of over 180 with Lokesh striking at rate of over 150. Guptill is also nearing towards his first half-century of the NPL season 2.

Martin Guptill and Lokesh Bam are building some partnership here. They have now stitched 100 runs together for the 2nd wicket. Guptill has already completed his half-century and Lokesh is just 5 runs away from getting his fifty. Pokhara Avengers have looked dull since the start and they are in desperate need of some wickets.

The 132-run stand for the 2nd wicket has finally been broken by Sagar Dhakal. Guptill was trying to hit it over long-off but he could not find the distance. Kushal Bhurtel takes an easy catch to dismiss Guptill for a score of 61 off 35.

The Kings have been restricted to a mammoth total of 220 in the 1st innings of Nepal Premier league's match number 3. Martin Guptill and Lokesh Bam stole the show with their 100+ run partnership with Basir Ahmed and Shubham Ranjane providing the finishing touches with their quickfire knocks of 23 and 38 respectively. Huge 2nd innings coming your way shortly.

Pokhara Avengers have initiated their run-chase of 221 runs to win their opening NPL 2025 fixture against the Biratnagar Kings. However, the Kings have striked a wicket in just the 2nd over as Pratis GC led to the departure of Dinesh Kharel for a score of just 7 off 6. Not the start POA were looking for.

The powerplay has come to an end and the Pokhara Avengers have been reduced to 4 wickets. Dinesh Kharel fell for 7 and Adam Rossington got out after a blistering 39 off 21 at the end of powerplay.

In the very next over, Sandeep Lamichhane took back-to-back wickets of Jimmy Neesham (0 off 1) and Trit Raj Das (0 off 2) in the 2nd and 4th delivery.

Skipper Kushal Bhurtel is still at the crease and he has looked good so far. He has smashed 44 off 18 already, but he must stick to the crease if he wants to get his side over the line here.

Another one bites the dust. Surya Tamang adds more misery for the Pokhara Avengers with the wicket of Kiran Thagunna, who was looking promising at the start, but ended up handing an easy catch to Martin Guptill.

It's not looking good for the Pokhara Avengers, who are losing wickets in regular intervals. This time Abhishekh Tiwari got out for 11 off 9, becoming Basir Ahmed's first wicket of the night.

The Avengers still need 90+ runs to win this game, but the Biratnagar Kings are all over them.

The Pokhara Avengers have been reduced to 9 wickets as every Biratnagar Kings bowler register at least a single wicket. Commanding performance by the latter team, who produced a complete all-round performance.

That's it. Biratnagar Kings have registered a big-margin 54-run victory against the Pokhara Avengers as both teams get their Nepal Premier League 2025 season started here in Kirtipur.

Fantastic performances from Martin Guptill and Lokesh Bam in the 1st innings, followed by a splendid team effort with the ball in the 2nd. This will give Biratnagar Kings plenty of confidence.