T20-LEAGUE

BIK vs JAB NPL 2026: Russell Stars, Biratnagar Win by 2 Runs

Published on November 3, 2026

Summary Overview: Biratnagar Kings beat Janakpur Bolts by 2 runs in a last-ball NPL 2026 thriller at Kirtipur. Player of the Match Andre Russell hit 52 not out off 29, then took 4 for 45, including two wickets in the final over. Saif Hassan's 71 off 48 was not quite enough.

Who won? Biratnagar Kings, by just 2 runs at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. They made 174 for 3, and Janakpur Bolts finished on 172 for 7.

How close was it? Janakpur needed 13 from the last over. Andre Russell bowled it, took two wickets, and Janakpur fell short when Saif Hassan was caught off the very last ball.

Who starred? Andre Russell smashed 52 not out off 29 balls, with five sixes, and then took 4 for 45. He was named Player of the Match. Imran Sheikh (56) and Lokesh Bam (50) also made fifties.

What about Janakpur? Bangladesh's Saif Hassan hit five sixes in 71 off 48, and Bishal Shusling made 43 off 30, but it was not quite enough.

Match Report: Russell Does It All

For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side cannot reach its total.

Biratnagar's Innings: Two Fifties and a Russell Finish

Janakpur captain Harmeet Singh won the toss and chose to bowl, and Moeen Ali struck in the first over, with Anil Sah stumping Shehan Jayasuriya for 1.

Lokesh Bam and Imran Sheikh then took control with a stand of 107 off 76 balls. Sheikh hit five fours and two sixes in 56 off 45 before Abhishek Tiwari had him caught behind at 109 for 2 in the 14th over.

Andre Russell came in and changed the pace. He hit 33 off 21 while Bam reached his fifty, and Tiwari then removed Bam for 50 off 40 at 146 for 3. Russell and Shubham Ranjane (7 not out) took 28 off the last 12 balls, and Russell finished on 52 not out off 29, with five sixes. Biratnagar posted 174 for 3.

Janakpur's Chase: Saif Hassan Takes It to the Wire

Angelo Mathews bowled Trit Raj Das, the hero of Janakpur's last game, for 6. Russell then struck twice in three balls in the fifth over, removing Moeen Ali (10) and Anil Sah (0), and Janakpur were 30 for 3.

Bangladesh's Saif Hassan and Bishal Shusling rebuilt with 76 off 56 balls. Shusling hit three sixes in 43 off 30 before Mathews had him caught at 106 for 4. James Neesham then hit three sixes in 27 off 15, and he and Saif added 56 off 30 balls. Rupesh Singh had Neesham caught in the 19th over, leaving Janakpur 162 for 5, needing 13 from the last over.

The Last Over

Russell had the ball. Saif took a single, and Russell had captain Harmeet Singh caught by Basir Ahamad first ball. Abhishek Tiwari and Saif then found 9 runs from the next three balls, including a four from Tiwari, leaving Janakpur needing 3 off the final ball. Saif was caught by Basir Ahamad, his third catch of the innings. Biratnagar won by 2 runs.

Turning Point: Russell's Final Over

Russell's four overs cost 45 runs, the most expensive spell of the match, but his wickets came at the key moments. His two early strikes left Janakpur 30 for 3, and in the final over, defending 13, he removed Harmeet and then Saif, who had already hit five sixes, off the last ball.

Stat Corner

Top Performers

Player	Team	Performance
Andre Russell	Biratnagar Kings	*52 (29), 2 fours, 5 sixes, and 4 for 45**, Player of the Match
Imran Sheikh	Biratnagar Kings	56 (45), 5 fours, 2 sixes
Lokesh Bam	Biratnagar Kings	50 (40), 3 fours, 3 sixes
Angelo Mathews	Biratnagar Kings	2 for 25 (3 overs)
Saif Hassan	Janakpur Bolts	71 (48), 2 fours, 5 sixes
Bishal Shusling	Janakpur Bolts	43 (30), 2 fours, 3 sixes
James Neesham	Janakpur Bolts	27 (15), 3 sixes
Abhishek Tiwari	Janakpur Bolts	2 for 38 (4 overs), and 5* (2)

* not out

How the Game Turned

Moment	Score
Bam and Sheikh stand	107 off 76 balls for the 2nd wicket
Russell and Ranjane finish	28 off 12 balls for the 4th wicket
Biratnagar total	174 for 3 (20 overs)
Russell's double strike	Janakpur 30 for 1 to 30 for 3
Saif and Shusling stand	76 off 56 balls for the 4th wicket
Saif and Neesham stand	56 off 30 balls for the 5th wicket
Last over begins	162 for 5, needing 13
Janakpur finish	172 for 7 (20 overs), 2 runs short

Powerplay Comparison

Team	First 6 overs
Biratnagar Kings	46 for 1
Janakpur Bolts	40 for 3

Playing XIs

Team	Playing XI
Biratnagar Kings	Shehan Jayasuriya (wk), Lokesh Bam, Imran Sheikh, Angelo Mathews, Andre Russell, Shubham Ranjane, Narayan Joshi, Rupesh Singh, Sandeep Lamichhane (c), Basir Ahamad, Aprajit Poudel
Janakpur Bolts	Moeen Ali, Trit Raj Das, Saif Hassan, Anil Sah (wk), James Neesham, Harmeet Singh (c), Abhishek Tiwari, Bishal Shusling, Amar Singh Rautela, Rahul Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi

What's Next

Match	Date	Fixture	Nepal (NPT)	UTC	IST	PKT	ET
14th Match	Thu, Nov 5	Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts	12:30 PM	06:45	12:15 PM	11:45 AM	1:45 AM
15th Match	Thu, Nov 5	Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Biratnagar Kings	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	4:15 PM	6:15 AM

All matches at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. NPT is Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5). Evening times are from the official schedule; check on match day, as Monday's evening game started at 4:30 PM NPT.