Kathmandu Gurkhas defeated Biratnagar Kings by one wicket in the Nepal Premier League match on Sunday at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. Chasing a modest target of 118, Kathmandu achieved the target in 18.1 overs.

Dipesh Kandel and Shankar Rana secured the win with an unbeaten 18-run partnership. Needing two runs to win, Kandel struck a match-winning boundary off Subash Bhandari. Kandel scored 11 off five balls, including a boundary and a six, while Rana contributed 16 runs off 20 balls.

The victory keeps Kathmandu’s playoff hopes alive but leaves them in a precarious position. With four wins in seven games, they are tied at eight points with Chitwan Rhinos and Karnali Yaks, but Chitwan leads on net run rate. Karnali will play their final league match against Sudurpaschim Royals on Monday.

Pratik Shrestha top-scored for Kathmandu with 39 off 34 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Other contributors included Michael Levit (10), Gerhard Erasmus (12), and Rashid Khan (14), while captain Karan KC was dismissed for a duck. Biratnagar’s bowlers, Chris Sole and Basir Ahmed, claimed two wickets each, while Sandeep Lamichhane was economical, conceding just 19 runs in four overs.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Biratnagar were bowled out for 117 in 19.5 overs. Erasmus starred with the ball, taking 3-17, including the wickets of Scott Edwards, Chris Sole, and Lamichhane in a single over. Dipesh Kandel supported with 2-16, while Shahab Alam, Dan Douthwaite, and Karan KC picked up one wicket each.

Rajesh Pulami was the standout batter for Biratnagar, scoring 25 off 21 balls. Contributions from Deepak Bohara (20) and Nicholas Kirton (10) were not enough to lift the team to a competitive total. Biratnagar’s campaign ends with just four points from six games, eliminating them from playoff contention.