Sandeep Lamichhane overshadowed a brilliant innings by Yuvraaj Samra with a record-equalling six-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, as Biratnagar Kings beat Pokhara Avengers by four wickets in the Nepal Premier League on Thursday.

Samra struck 84 off 47 balls at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, but Lamichhane's devastating spell restricted Pokhara to 132 in 17.5 overs after they elected to bat. Biratnagar, who struggled during the chase despite the modest target, eventually reached 136 for six in 19.2 overs.

The victory kept Biratnagar's playoff hopes alive. With three wins and three defeats from six matches, the Kings moved up to fourth place with six points. The top four teams from the eight-team round-robin league qualify for the playoffs.

Pokhara, meanwhile, were eliminated from playoff contention after suffering their fifth defeat in six matches.

Samra, who had smashed a century off 45 balls against Karnali Yaks in his previous match, continued his impressive form with seven fours and five sixes.

But his dismissal by Lamichhane in the 15th over triggered a collapse, with Pokhara losing their last five wickets for just 10 runs.

In the 15th over, Samra struck Lamichhane for a six and a four off the first two deliveries. But the Biratnagar captain struck back, having Samra caught at point by Isuru Udana. He then dismissed Pokhara captain Chamika Karunaratne and Kiran Thagunna leg-before-wicket off consecutive deliveries to complete his hat-trick.

It was the first hat-trick of NPL Season 3. Pratis GC of Biratnagar Kings, Shahab Alam of Kathmandu Gorkhas and Rohit Paudel of Lumbini Lions had also taken three wickets in successive deliveries in previous editions.

Lamichhane became the first bowler to take five wickets in an innings in the ongoing season, having managed just one wicket across his previous five matches. He finished with 6/27 from four overs, taking all six wickets within three overs.

His figures are now the best in NPL history, surpassing the previous record of 6/25 by Kathmandu Gorkhas' Shahab Alam against Pokhara last season. Karnali Yaks' William Bosisto had also taken six wickets against Pokhara in the inaugural 2024 season, conceding 28 runs.

Apart from Samra, Sunny BK scored 12 and Dhananjaya Lakshan made 22 off 15 balls, hitting a four and a six. No other Pokhara batter reached double figures. Arjun Kumal scored one, Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck, Arjun Gharti made five, while Ramesh Mendis, Karunaratne and Thagunna failed to open their accounts. Bipin Khatri was dismissed for five.

Besides Lamichhane, Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka and Rupesh Singh took one wicket each for Biratnagar.

Biratnagar also struggled with the bat despite the modest target. Opener Imran Sheikh fell for 10, while Lokesh Bam made 33, benefiting from some loose fielding by Pokhara. Bam was dropped three times during his 27-ball innings, which included two fours and two sixes.

Asalanka failed to score, while Mathews managed just eight. Pratis GC, promoted up the batting order, was also dismissed for a duck.

Basir Ahamad top-scored for Biratnagar with 37 off 39 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Shehan Jayasuriya remained unbeaten on 17 off 14 deliveries, including two fours.

Udana provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 25 off just 12 balls, striking four fours and a six. He hit the winning boundary off Lakshan's bowling.

For Pokhara, Bhurtel took two wickets for 21 runs in four overs, including a maiden, while Mendis claimed two for 29. Khatri and Lakshan took one wicket each.