Lokesh Bam’s explosive 87 off 52 balls helped Biratnagar Kings post 186 for seven against Karnali Yaks in the sixth match of the Nepal Premier League at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Thursday.
Asked to bat first after Karnali captain Sompal Kami elected to field, Biratnagar finished their 20 overs at a run rate of 9.30, setting Karnali a target of 187.
Bam anchored the innings with an aggressive knock that featured three fours and nine sixes. He reached his half-century before the drinks break, helping Biratnagar recover from early setbacks and build a competitive total.
Biratnagar lost Imran Sheikh for five in the third over before Charith Asalanka fell for three in the sixth, leaving the side at 39 for two. Shehan Jayasuriya added 11 before being run out, but Bam and Angelo Mathews steadied the innings.
Mathews scored 31 off 23 deliveries, striking four fours, before becoming Sompal’s third victim. Bam departed for 87 in the 16th over, having played the key role in taking Biratnagar to 144 for four.
Andre Russell provided a late surge with 27 off 15 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Basir Ahamad added 13 off seven deliveries as Biratnagar reached 186, although both fell in the closing overs.
Sompal was Karnali’s most effective bowler, finishing with four wickets for 33 runs from his four overs. Scotland’s Mark Watt conceded just 23 runs in four overs and took one wicket, while Nandan Yadav also claimed a wicket.
