Biratnagar Kings did not have much to worry about the target posted by Chitwan Rhinos because the squad was filled with match winners.

Chasing 158 runs, Biratnagar started with ease. It was a different thing that they could not remain consistent.

Lokesh Bam and Imran Sheikh opened for the Kings. The duo built a 40-run partnership for the first wicket before Bam (26 off 14) departed in the third ball of the fifth over.

Sheikh (39 off 31) was the third wicket to fall for Biratnagar, following Charith Asalanka (8 off 9). By the end of the 12th over, the Kings had lost their fourth wicket in Basir Ahmad (13 off 13).

And then the TU Ground erupted in joy as Ahmad was replaced by the West Indian power hitter Andre Russell, who partnered with Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews.

Russell did not show his character from the very start. Welcoming his first ball as a batsman in the NPL, Russell responded with a stroke. He then tried hitting maximums in the next two deliveries, but could not.

It was in the 15th over that Russell opened his arms, hitting Mousam Dhakal for consecutive sixes in the first two balls. He went on to smash two more sixes and a four before getting caught in the long-off region. Russell departed at 33 off 17, with the Kings requiring 26 off 25 to win.

Russell’s wicket was a big blow for Biratnagar. It got worse when the Kings lost Mathews (14 off 16) and Rupesh Kumar Singh (0 off 1) in the last two balls of the 18th over. The Kings were then 141/7.

With two overs left and 17 runs to win, Kings lost Parrish GC (0 off 1) as the eighth wicket. Skipper Sandeep Lamichhane then joined Shubham Ranjane.

None of the teams had an upper hand in the match by then—Kings needed 16 off 10 and Rhinos needed two wickets. 

The match only turned more interesting when Dev Khanal dropped Naren Saud, who came in after Lamichhane’s wicket—in 18.5 overs.

Ranjane then took strike in the last over, with the Kings requiring 14 to win. Tom Taylor was defending the score for the Rhinos.

Ranjane smashed the first ball for a four and did not take the risk of singles if at least a double was not possible. But he got clean bowled in the third ball of the last over, and the Rhinos won by 8 runs.

It was the only wicket for Taylor. Ranjeet Kumar, Mousam Dhakal and Dan Mousley also took one each. The biggest contribution with the ball for Chitwan came from Kamal Singh Airee, who picked four wickets, and Roman Dhakal, who claimed two.