Biratnagar Kings set two records with a high score in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket on Tuesday, registering a 53-run win over Pokhara Avengers. Chasing a mammoth target of 221, Pokhara were bowled out for 167 in 18.5 overs.

Biratnagar, who were invited to bat after losing the toss, scored 220 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs at the floodlights of the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Stadium, which was the highest score in the NPL. Biratnagar surpassed its own record of the highest score. Last year, Biratnagar won the match against Lumbini Lions by scoring 193 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. The highest-scoring match between Biratnagar and Pokhara was also played in a single match. A total of 384 runs were scored in this match. In the last edition's final, 369 runs were scored when Janakpur Bolts and Sudurpaschim Royals played. Lokesh Bam and Martin Guptill shared a 132-run partnership for the second wicket. This was the second highest partnership in NPL history. Last year, Pokhara's Andries Gauss and Dinesh Kharel had added 176 runs for the first wicket without loss. After George Munshi was dismissed for 10 runs after hitting 1 six and a four, Lokesh and Guptill dominated the Pokhara bowlers. Guptill scored 61 runs off 35 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes. Player of the Match Lokesh scored 72 runs off 48 balls with 7 fours and 1 six. Bashir Ahmed was dismissed for 23 runs off 13 balls with 1 four and a six. Shubham Ranjan was dismissed for 38 runs off 16 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Pratish GC, who came to face the last ball of the innings, managed to take a catch at long-off. Except for him, everyone who played the innings for Biratnagar had a six and a

four. Narayan Joshi remained unbeaten on 11 runs off 3 balls. Pokhara's Matt Taylor took 2 wickets. However, he cost 48 runs in 4 overs for that. Sagar Dhakal and captain Kushal Bhurtel took 1 wicket each. Despite captain Bhurtel's 59, Pokhara could not get close to the target. Kushal scored 59 off 31 balls and was dismissed as the seventh player in the 15th over. His opening pair Dinesh was dismissed for 7 runs. 

Kushal and Adam Rossington showed Pokhara's hope by putting on a 76-run partnership for the second wicket in 32 balls. Rossington scored 39 runs off 21 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. However, Pokhara's chances of coming back into the game were slim after Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Jimmy Neesam and Tritaraj Das in the same over.

Kiran Thagunna was out for 8, Abhishek Tiwari for 11, Taylor and Akash Chand for 4 runs each. Dan Douthwaite was the last player to be dismissed. He scored 29 runs off 20 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. For Biratnagar, Sandeep, Merchant de Lange, Pratish GC and Ranjane took 2-2 wickets and Bashir and Surya Tamang took 1-1 wicket. 

Bopara and Jaib's impact on Chitwan's win

Chitwan Rhinos won the first match by 4 wickets after English duo Ravi Bopara and Saif Jaib batted brilliantly. Chitwan achieved the target of 167 runs by scoring 171 runs with 5 balls to spare on the excellent batting of these two. When Chitwan needed 2 runs to win in the last over, Arjun Saud hit a six. He remained unbeaten on 8 runs. 

Bopara scored 52 runs in 36 balls. He hit 3 fours and a six each. He added 52 runs in 25 balls for the fifth wicket with Jaib. Jaib, who was named Player of the Series for leading Sudurpaschim to the final last season, scored 38 runs in 16 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. Captain Sompal Kami took 2 wickets for 33 runs in 4 overs, while Yunis Bikram Singh, Mark Watt and Yuvraj Khatri took 1 wicket each. 

Opener Deepak Bohra was dismissed for 42 runs. He hit 6 fours and 1 six in 36 balls. His opening partner David Malan was dismissed for 6 runs. Dev Khanal was ‘unlucky’ to be run out for 2 runs and 2 sixes in 15 balls. Captain Kushal Malla was dismissed for 20 runs with 2 sixes in 15 balls. Earlier, after Priyank Panchal scored 90 runs, Karnali lost the toss and scored 166 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. The 35-year-old Panchal hit 7 fours and 6 sixes in 48 balls. As he was moving towards his century, he was caught by Dev Khanal at long-on off Ravi Bopara. 

Panchal, along with Max O’Dodd, gave Karnali a great start. With the efforts of these two, Karnali scored 51 runs in the first 6 overs of the power play. The partnership was broken when O'Dodd was dismissed for 61 runs. Saif Zaib bowled O'Dodd in the ninth over. O'Dodd scored 20 runs in 30 balls with 1 four. Scottish player Mark Watt was out for 16 runs in 21 balls with 1 four. Pawan Saraf hit 3 sixes to make 27 off 16 balls and Najibullah Zadran remained unbeaten on 4 runs in 5 balls.