Pokhara Avengers beats Biratnagar Kings in Super Over

KATHMANDU: Pokhara Avengers emerged victorious over Biratnagar Kings by 13 runs in a thrilling Super Over on Thursday in the first match of the day.

This marked the first-ever Super Over in the history of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

In the Super Over, Pokhara batted first. Biratnagar’s captain, Sandeep Lamichhane, took the ball. Pokhara’s Raymon Reifer hit two sixes on the first two balls.

Sandeep managed to stop the attack on the third ball, but Raifer struck a boundary on the fourth ball. Sandeep conceded a single run on both the fifth and sixth balls, bringing Pokhara’s total to 19 runs.

Biratnagar, chasing 19 runs, sent Martin Guptill and Nicholas Kirton to bat. Pokhara’s Rymon Raifer bowled the Super Over. Guptill took a single on the first ball, followed by another single from Kirton on the second. Reifer maintained pressure, conceding only singles as Kirton also took a run. In the fifth ball, Kirton faced a wide delivery from Reifer, but despite a final dot ball, Pokhara held their nerve to win the Super Over by 13 runs.

Earlier, the match had ended in a tie after 20 overs. Pokhara, chasing Biratnagar’s target of 140 runs, had scored 139/6, leading to the Super Over. In the final over, 14 runs were required, but Basir Ahmed gave away only 13 runs, allowing the game to go into the Super Over.

For Pokhara, Andreas Gous top-scored with 39 runs off 27 balls, including seven fours. Gous was dismissed by Pratish GC in the 11th over. Captain Kushal Bhurtel contributed 31 runs off 34 balls before falling to Chris Sole.

The opening partnership of Dinesh Kharel (11 off 11 balls) and Gous was broken when Kharel was dismissed by GC. GC also dismissed Jen Mallick for four runs.

For Biratnagar, GC took three wickets, and Chris Sole claimed two wickets, while captain Sandeep Lamichhane remained wicketless, even after conceding 21 runs in his four overs. Sandeep had only claimed a wicket in the tournament against Lumbini Lions.

Biratnagar, having chosen to bat first, made 139/7 in their 20 overs. Scott Edwards top-scored with 45 runs off 35 balls, including five fours, before being dismissed by Bhurtel.

Basir Ahmad remained unbeaten on 21 runs from 20 balls, while Lokesh Bam scored 26 runs. Opening batsman Martin Guptill, who had earlier made a half-century, struggled again, scoring just five runs from 14 balls before being bowled by Sagar Dhakal.

In a significant bowling performance for Pokhara, Sagar Dhakal and Rymon Reifer claimed two wickets each, while Bhurtel and Dinesh Kharel took one wicket each.

The second match of the day between Kathmandu Gurkhas and Janakpur Bolts will follow shortly.