Defending champions Lumbini Lions finished top of the Nepal Premier League table with a four-wicket win over Biratnagar Kings in Match 26 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday, 14 November — a chase that was won with one ball to spare.

Chasing 167, Lumbini needed 28 off the last eight balls before Sundeep Jora's unbeaten 25 off 11 balls and a six off the only ball Ruben Trumpelmann faced turned the game. The win takes Lumbini to 11 points and straight into Qualifier 1, and it settled the playoff field: Lumbini, Sudurpaschim Royals, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Chitwan Rhinos are through, while Biratnagar's campaign is over.

The finish

The chase came down to the last two overs, with Lumbini still needing 33 from 12 balls. Jora and debutant Ali Sheikh were together, and the 19th over — bowled by Isuru Udana — swung it. Udana had a chance to run Jora out, but missed the stumps with an underarm throw from close range. Jora punished the reprieve with a four and two sixes in the over, and from 28 needed off eight balls, Lumbini suddenly needed 16 off six.

The final over, bowled by Rupesh Singh, brought another costly error: a waist-high full toss that Ali hit for six, and the no-ball added another run, leaving nine needed with six legitimate deliveries still available. Ali took two from the free hit, the pair traded singles, and then Rupesh had Ali caught by Udana at long-off — five needed from two balls. Trumpelmann needed only one: he struck a full toss over deep square leg for six.

Jora finished unbeaten on 25 off 11 balls, with three sixes and a four, and was named Player of the Match.

Jora turns the game

Jora said the plan with Ali Sheikh was simple:

One or two sixes and the game would have come to our favour.

Ali, on debut, made 27 off 19 balls and held the chase together while Jora attacked. Jora had praise for the man who finished it too:

Yes he is a big hitter and we believe in him.

Biratnagar captain Sandeep Lamichhane was blunt about the defeat:

It was our game. Very honestly. Didn't execute very well as a unit.

He credited Jora's innings and Ali's support for taking the match away.

Biratnagar's 166

Lumbini won the toss and chose to bowl, and for much of the innings that looked like the right call — until Charith Asalanka took the game away. The Sri Lankan made 64 off 43 balls, with six sixes and a four, and was dropped twice along the way: Trumpelmann put him down at long-on when he was on 22, and Aasif Sheikh missed another chance at long-off when he had reached 47.

Lokesh Bam made 15 before falling in the fifth over, and Imran Sheikh retired hurt on 24. Asalanka then added 74 with Shubham Ranjane, who finished unbeaten on 31 off 24 balls, and Biratnagar added 64 in the final five overs to reach 166 for four. Shehan Jayasuriya (one not out) and Isuru Udana (six not out) were the other unbeaten batters.

Kishore Mahato led Lumbini's bowling with two for 24 from four overs, while Abhishesh Gautam took one for 15 from three and Trumpelmann one for 52 from four.

Lumbini's wobble

The chase started well. Openers Aasif Sheikh and D'Arcy Short added 86 in 71 balls without losing a wicket, and Lumbini looked comfortable. Then Asalanka broke the stand with the ball, trapping Short lbw for 45 off 38 balls.

What followed was a collapse. Aprajit Poudel dismissed Niroshan Dickwella and Dilip Nath for ducks from consecutive deliveries in his only over, finishing with two for five, and Aasif was run out for 45 off 41 balls. Lumbini had slipped from 86 without loss to 98 for four, and when Rohit Paudel fell for nine, Jora and debutant Ali were left to rebuild the finish.

Asalanka finished with one for 17 from his four overs — a fine all-round game in a losing cause.

What the result means

The win takes Lumbini to 11 points from seven matches and secures them top spot and a direct place in Qualifier 1 on 17 November, against the second-placed team. The winner of that match goes straight to the final.

Sudurpaschim Royals are second with 10 points. Kathmandu Gorkhas, on eight, can also reach 10 with a win over Pokhara Avengers on Sunday — and with a better net run rate than Sudurpaschim, a win would lift them above the Royals and set up a Qualifier 1 clash against Lumbini.

The result also confirmed all four playoff teams — Lumbini, Sudurpaschim, Kathmandu and Chitwan Rhinos — and ended Biratnagar's campaign at the league stage on six points. It also left Karnali Yaks unable to reach the top four.

What happens next

Two league matches remain, both on Sunday: Kathmandu Gorkhas play Pokhara Avengers, and Chitwan Rhinos face Karnali Yaks in Match 27. Those games settle the final order — and whether Kathmandu or Sudurpaschim take the second Qualifier 1 spot. Qualifier 1 is on Tuesday, 17 November.

FAQs

Who won NPL Match 26?

Lumbini Lions beat Biratnagar Kings by four wickets at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on 14 November 2026. Biratnagar made 166 for four, Lumbini finished on 168 for six in 19.5 overs, with one ball to spare.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Sundeep Jora, for his unbeaten 25 off 11 balls — three sixes and a four — including two sixes in the 19th over that turned the chase Lumbini's way.

How did Lumbini win the match?

Lumbini needed 28 off the last eight balls. Jora hit a four and two sixes in the 19th over, then Ruben Trumpelmann hit a six off the only ball he faced, with five needed off two balls in the final over.

Who finished top of the NPL table?

Lumbini Lions, with 11 points from seven matches. They go straight into Qualifier 1 on 17 November, against the second-placed team, with the winner advancing directly to the final.

Which four teams made the NPL playoffs?

Lumbini Lions, Sudurpaschim Royals, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Chitwan Rhinos. Biratnagar Kings finished on six points and were eliminated, and Karnali Yaks also cannot reach the top four.

Conclusion

Biratnagar had the game in their hands twice — first when Asalanka's 64 lifted them to 166, then when four wickets in quick time left Lumbini 98 for four. But finals are decided at the death, and Lumbini owned the last two overs: Jora's two sixes, Ali's calm support, and Trumpelmann's one-ball six. The defending champions finish top of the table, and the playoff field is set.

Also on CricVic: Chitwan Rhinos Beat Janakpur Bolts by Four Wickets to Knock Them Out of NPL Playoff Race

Also on CricVic: Sudurpaschim Royals Beat Kathmandu Gorkhas by Seven Runs to Seal NPL Playoff Spot

Sources: Kathmandu Post — Lumbini beat Biratnagar to reach Qualifier, Kings knocked out, CricNepal — Sundeep Jora sparks Lumbini escape as Biratnagar crash out, Cricbuzz — Biratnagar Kings vs Lumbini Lions, 26th Match scorecard