Lumbini Lions restricted South African star Faf du Plessis-led Biratnagar Kings to 144 runs in a Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket match on Wednesday. Invited to bat after Lumbini captain Rohit Poudel won the toss at the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Stadium in Kirtipur, Biratnagar could only score 144 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Du Plessis, who was playing his first match in the NPL, could only score 12 runs. He hit 2 fours in 9 balls before being stumped by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. Lumbini had already made a great start to the match. In the second ball of the match, Sher Malla had dismissed George Mansi LBW for nil.

Lokesh Bam, who came in at number three after Faf opened the innings, scored the highest 35 runs for Biratnagar. Lokesh, who hit 2 fours and a six in 42 balls, was cut and bowled by JJ Smith. Sam Hazlett scored 27 runs. He hit 1 four and 2 sixes in 20 balls.

Narayan Joshi 5, Pratish GC 11, Bashir Ahmed 28 in 19 balls, 1 four and a six in 19 balls, and Sahil Patel was out for 3 runs. Sandeep Lamichhane, who came to face the last ball of the innings, hit a six. Merchant de Lange remained unbeaten on 10 runs in 8 balls.

Sher took 3 wickets from Lumbini. He spent only 25 runs in 4 overs. Abhishek took 1 wicket for 21 runs in 4 overs. Namibian duo Ruben Trumpelman took 1 wicket for 24 runs in 4 overs and Smit took 1 wicket each in 3 overs.

If Biratnagar wins this match, it will be sure to make it to the playoffs and move closer to Qualifier 1. Biratnagar has already won 4 of its first 5 matches and secured a place in the playoffs. Biratnagar, which won its first 3 matches, lost to Chitwan Rhinos by 48 runs in the fourth match.