Lumbini Lions beat Biratnagar Kings by 4 wickets in the 26th match of Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 3 at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Saturday, 14 November 2026.

Lumbini won the toss and opted to bowl. Biratnagar posted 166/4 in 20 overs, and Lumbini chased the target of 167 down in 19.5 overs, finishing on 168/6 with one ball to spare. The full Biratnagar Kings vs Lumbini Lions Match 26 scorecard has all the details.

Asalanka's six-hitting sets up 166.

Biratnagar's innings was built around Charith Asalanka, who hit six sixes in 64 off 43 balls, adding 74 off 46 balls with Shubham Ranjane. Opener Imran Sheikh retired hurt on 24, Lokesh Bam made 15, and Ranjane finished on 31 not out of 24. Biratnagar's 166 was the highest first-innings total at Kirtipur since Match 19—after five matches in which the first innings had averaged just 114.

The chase looked comfortable when D'Arcy Short (45 off 38) and Aasif Sheikh (45 off 41) put on 86 off 71 balls for the first wicket—Aasif's first substantial score after two innings of 1. Then Biratnagar struck back: Aprajit Poudel took two wickets in two balls in the 13th over, removing Niroshan Dickwella and Dilip Nath, both for 0, and Basir Ahamad ran out both Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel. At 120/5 after 16.2 overs, Lumbini needed 47 from 22 balls.

Sundeep Jora turned it around, adding 48 off 20 balls with Ali Sheikh (27 off 19), hitting three sixes in an unbeaten 25 off 11 balls. With 5 needed from 2 balls, Ruben Trumpelmann hit the first ball he faced for six to win the game. Jora was named Player of the Match. Asalanka also starred with the ball for Biratnagar, taking 1/17 in four overs, while Sandeep Lamichhane — a week after his 6/27 hat-trick — went wicketless, conceding 33 in four overs.

The win takes Lumbini to 11 points from 7 matches—top of the NPL 2026 points table, with their league stage complete. Lumbini is confirmed first; second place will be decided on Sunday, with Sudurpaschim Royals on 10 points and Kathmandu Gurkhas able to reach 10 with a win over Pokhara Avengers, when the net run rate will decide.

Biratnagar finished their league stage on 6 points from 7 matches and were eliminated from the playoffs—Chitwan Rhinos (7 points) and Kathmandu Gurkhas (8 points) are already ahead of them, and both still have a match to play on Sunday. Andre Russell did not play—Biratnagar brought in Ranjane and Sujan Thapaliya for Angelo Mathews and Pratis GC, while Lumbini brought in Ali Sheikh for Shamim Hossain.