Kathmandu, November 1
Andre Russell delivered an all-round performance with bat, ball and in the field as Biratnagar Kings beat Sudurpaschim Royals by 35 runs in a five-over Nepal Premier League (NPL) match on Saturday.
Biratnagar earned its first win in three matches and opened its points account with two points.
Chasing a target of 106, Sudurpaschim managed only 70 runs for the loss of two wickets in five overs.
Russell scored an unbeaten 29 with the bat, took one wicket and held one catch.
For Sudurpaschim, Scott Kuggeleijn top-scored with an unbeaten 28. Opener Saif Zaib hit two sixes in his 17 off 10 balls, while Arif Sheikh also remained unbeaten on 17.
In the bowling department, Russell conceded just eight runs in his two overs and took one wicket for Biratnagar. Angelo Mathews took one wicket while giving away 15 runs in his only over.
Russell struck on the very first ball, dismissing opener Sherfane Rutherford. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who came in at number three, was out in the second over, leaving Sudurpaschim at 7 for 2. Saif Zaib tried to hold the innings together from one end, but it was not enough.
Biratnagar lost the toss and batted first at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. It scored 105 for 2 in the allotted five overs.
Opener Shehean Jayasuriya top-scored for Biratnagar with 39 off 11 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Russell, who came in at number three, batted aggressively and remained unbeaten on 29 off 10 balls, with two fours and three sixes.
The other opener, Lokesh Bam, added 25 off 10 balls with one four and three sixes before being dismissed on the last ball. For Sudurpaschim, Abhinash Bohara took one wicket for 28 runs in his two overs.
Lokesh Bam opened the innings with Jayasuriya for Biratnagar. For Sudurpaschim, Sri Lankan spinner Tharindu Ratnayake, who was making his NPL debut in this match, bowled the first over.
Jayasuriya smashed five sixes off Ratnayake in that over, and Biratnagar collected 35 runs from it. With both batters hitting explosively, Biratnagar reached fifty in just eight balls.
Jayasuriya hit two fours and five sixes in his 39 off 11 balls before being dismissed in the third over, lbw to Bohara. The umpire initially gave him not out, but he was dismissed on review.
After his dismissal, Russell and Lokesh Bam continued the attack, taking Biratnagar past 100.
Match starts late
The match between Sudurpaschim and Biratnagar was originally scheduled for 5 pm on Saturday. Because rain had left water on the TU ground, drying it took time. The toss was rescheduled for 7:25 pm, with the match to start at 7:41 pm.
However, when it was time for the toss, Biratnagar Kings captain Sandeep Lamichhane went out to the middle, but Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee did not.
Paras Khadka, secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and convener of the NPL Governing Council, held a lengthy discussion with the match referee. The toss and the start of the match did not happen at the scheduled time. After more than an hour of uncertainty, the Sudurpaschim players were finally ready to play at 8:54 pm. It was then decided to hold the toss at 9 pm and start the match at 9:15 pm.
No official explanation has been given for why the toss was delayed or why Sudurpaschim’s players and management were not ready. From what could be seen at the ground, Sudurpaschim refused to go out for the toss because the outfield was somewhat damp and its overseas players were not ready to play.
Once the match was confirmed, Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee won the toss and chose to bowl first, inviting Biratnagar to bat.
