Sandeep Lamichhane overshadowed Yuvraaj Samra’s outstanding innings with a record-breaking bowling performance, taking a hat-trick and six wickets as Pokhara Avengers were bowled out for 132 in 17.5 overs against Biratnagar Kings in the Nepal Premier League on Thursday.

Samra continued his impressive run of form at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, scoring 84 off 47 balls. But Pokhara’s innings fell apart after captain Lamichhane took six wickets, having won the toss and elected to bat.

Samra, who had scored a century off 45 balls against Karnali Yaks in the previous match, struck seven fours and five sixes. Lamichhane dismissed him in the 15th over, triggering a collapse in which Pokhara lost their final five wickets for just 10 runs.

Samra began the 15th over by hitting Lamichhane for a six and a four off the first two deliveries. The Biratnagar captain then had him caught by Isuru Udana at point. He followed that with consecutive deliveries that trapped Pokhara captain Chamika Karunaratne and Kiran Thagunna leg-before-wicket (LBW), completing the first hat-trick of NPL Season 3.

Having taken just one wicket in his previous five matches, Lamichhane also became the first bowler in the third edition of the league to claim a five-wicket haul in a match. He took all six wickets within three overs, finishing with figures of six for 27 from his four overs.

Lamichhane’s performance ranks as the second-best bowling figures in NPL history. Shahab Alam of Kathmandu Gorkhas holds the record, having taken six wickets for 25 runs in four overs against Pokhara last year. There have now been three instances of a bowler taking six wickets in an NPL match. In the inaugural 2024 season, Will Bosisto of Karnali Yaks took six for 28, also against Pokhara.

Apart from Samra, only Sunny BK and Dhananjaya Lakshan reached double figures for Pokhara. Sunny scored 12, while Lakshan made 22 off 15 balls, hitting a four and a six.

The rest of the batting line-up struggled. Arjun Kumal scored one, Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck, and Arjun Gharti made five. Ramesh Mendis, Karunaratne and Thagunna failed to open their accounts, while Bipin Khatri was dismissed for five.

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