Cricket

Biratnagar Super Kings booked their playoff place in the Nepal T20 League after beating Kathmandu Knights by seven wickets at the TU Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Kathmandu put up 154 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs after they won the toss and chose to bat first. Biratnagar comfortably reached 160 runs in 18.4 overs losing only three wickets to secure third place with 10 points in the standings. 

Biratnagar captain Rohit Paudel scored a half-century in his team's victory. He made 66 runs off 42 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes before being run out.

Opener Arjun Saud was caught out for 10 runs in seven balls with two fours. Hussain Talat scored 21 runs in 12 balls and was bowled by Abinas Bohora.

The other opener Gauransu Sharma remained unbeaten on 51 runs. The fifth batsman Bibek Kumar Yadav remained unbeaten for 10 runs.

Kathmandu bowler Abinash Bohora took two wickets.

Earlier, Kathmandu openers Santosh Karki and Alex Blake gave a decent start to their team, each scoring 34 runs. 

Sandeep Rajali scored 30 runs off 24 balls, while captain Gyanendra Malla and Wasir Ahmed remained unbeaten on 22 and 17 runs, respectively.

Raj Nanan bowled superbly for Biratnagar to snare four Kathmandu wickets for 13 runs in his four overs. Nandan Yadav and captain Paudel took a wicket each. 

Lumbini finished on the top with 16 points, followed by Janakpur (14). The two sides meet in Sunday’s first playoff tie for a place in the finals. The losing side will play the winner of the eliminator – a match between the third- and fourth-placed teams.