Cricket

Lumbini All Stars have secured a place in the Nepal T20 League playoff as they defended 122 runs against Biratnagar Super Kings to pull off a dramatic 12-run win on Sunday. 

The Super Kings were seemingly heading towards a win, but they lost four wickets in the last two overs, surrendering the advantage to the All Stars who now have won six matches on the trot. 

Biratnagar lost Bibek Yadav on 19 runs in 18.4 overs, Nandan Yadav was run out in 18.6 overs, Pradeep Airee fell in the first ball of the last over and Surya Tamang got out in the third ball.

Lumbini currently lead the league table with 12 points from seven matches. The fourth defeat leaves Biratnagar in fifth place.

Lumbini, who won the toss and elected to bat first, scored 122 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Dipendra Singh Airee made 50 runs, but other batters struggled against hostile Biratnagar bowling. Harmeet Singh, Harry Tector and Anil Shah scored 13 runs each.

Nandan Yadav, Surya Tamang and Bibek Yadav took two wickets each for Biratnagar.

Chasing an average target of 123 runs, Biratnagar were out for 110 runs in 19.3 overs. 

Opener Arjun Sah was the highest scorer with 41 runs and Biratnagar were cruising towards a victory once. Bibek Yadav made 19 runs. But a sudden flow of adrenalin, together with rash shots, saw them lose wickets at regular intervals.

Lumbini bowlers Shadley Claude van Schalkwyk, Tilak Bhandari and Harry Tector wrestled back the initiative to bowl the opposition 12 runs short. All three took two wickets each.