The fourth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) will see Lumbini Lions competing against Biratnagar Kings on the tournament’s third day. The game will start at 1:15 PM at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
This will be Biratnagar Kings’ second game in consecutive days, following their loss on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Lumbini Lions will be playing their first match of the tournament.
Clash of Captains
The match has drawn attention as a contest between two national team captains: Rohit Paudel, the current captain of the Nepali national team, and Sandeep Lamichhane, the former captain of the national side.
Biratnagar aims to break their losing streak, while Lumbini looks to begin their campaign with a strong win.
Teams’ Preparations
After losing their opening game, Biratnagar coach Kevin O’Brien emphasized learning from mistakes and improving in the upcoming matches. Following their second consecutive loss on Tuesday, Sandeep Lamichhane said, “We couldn’t achieve the desired result again today. Dipendra (Airee) and the team played well, though.”
Lumbini Lions are debuting in this edition with a strong lineup, including national players like Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, and Vivek Yadav. Overseas players such as Ben Cutting, Saad Bin Zafar, Tom Moores, Ramon Simmonds, and Unmukt Chand further bolster their squad.
Key Concerns for Biratnagar
For Biratnagar, captain Sandeep Lamichhane must lead from the front as he has gone wicketless in the first two matches. The team’s top-order batting has also been inconsistent, heavily reliant on Martin Guptill.
In the first match, Guptill scored a half-century, but the rest of the team faltered, leading to a total of just 111 runs. In the second game, Guptill failed to fire, and the team couldn’t even cross 100 runs. Additionally, Nicholas Kirton has struggled to contribute in both matches.
Lumbini’s Game Plan
Lumbini aims for a solid start and will rely on experienced bowlers like Ben Cutting and Ramon Simmonds to counter Guptill. Their spin department, featuring Saad Bin Zafar, Surya Tamang, and captain Rohit himself, adds depth to the bowling attack.
In batting, players like Arjun Saud, Ashutosh Giri, Sundeep Jora, and Rohit Paudel will need to step up, supported by big hitters like Ben Cutting, Tom Moores, or Unmukt Chand.
Match Details
- Match: Lumbini Lions vs Biratnagar Kings
- Date & Time: December 4, 1:15 PM (19th Mangsir)
- Venue: TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Probable Playing XIs
Biratnagar Kings:
- Martin Guptill, Lokesh Bam, Nicholas Kirton, Basir Ahmed, Rajesh Pulami, Pratish GC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Sole, Anil Kharel, Jitendra Mukhiya, Subash Bhandari, Ismat Alam
Lumbini Lions:
- Ashutosh Giri, Arjun Saud, Rohit Paudel, Tom Moores/Unmukt Chand, Sundeep Jora, Ben Cutting, Vivek Yadav, Saad Bin Zafar, Surya Tamang, Ramon Simmonds, Durgesh Gupta
