Biratnagar’s 105 Powers 35-Run Win Over Sudurpaschim

Biratnagar finally have a win. After a day of rain delays at Kirtipur, Match 8 was reduced to five overs per side, and Biratnagar posted 105 for 2 before holding Sudurpaschim to 70 for 3 to win by 35 runs. Shehan Jayasuriya’s 39 off 11 balls, including five sixes in a 35-run over, set up a first victory in their third match of the season — and a second defeat for Sudurpaschim.

A day of rain at Kirtipur

Match 8 was the second half of a double-header that rain had already ruined once. Earlier on Saturday, Lumbini against Chitwan was abandoned without a toss, and about 30 hours of continuous rain had left water pooled on the field despite the covers. Cricket Association of Nepal vice-president Roshan Singh said both the ground and its surrounding areas had been inundated, while tournament director Dhirendra Saud said rainfall had exceeded expectations and the drainage channels around the ground were full. Saud added that the ground could be prepard for a match within an hour if the rain stopped — and late in the evening, it finally did, long enough for five overs a side.

Jayasuriya’s 35-run over sets up 105

Biratnagar were put in to bat after Sudurpaschim won the toss, and Sri Lankan-born American batter Shehan Jayasuriya wasted no time. Jayasuriya smashed 39 off just 11 balls, with five sixes and two fours, including five sixes in a single 35-run over off Sudurpaschim spinner Tharindu Rathnayake. Lokesh Bam added 25 off 10 balls and Andre Russell contributed 29 off 10 balls as Biratnagar reached 105 for 2 in their five overs.

Biratnagar’s innings was a complete change from their season so far. They had lost their opening match to Chitwan by eight runs and their second to Karnali by four wickets, with Bam’s 87 in the Karnali game standing as the highest individual score of the season after six matches. Against Sudurpaschim, the whole top order fired at once, and 105 in five overs left Sudurpaschim needing 106 to win — a target of more than 21 runs per over.

Chase falls short at 70 for 3

Sudurpaschim’s reply never got close. Scott Kuggeleijn finished unbeaten on 28 off just 6 balls, with one four and four sixes, and Aarif Sheikh finished unbeaten on 17 off 8 balls, with two sixes, but the pair came together too late to change the result. Saif Zaib scored 17 off 10 balls, with two sixes, before being caught off Rupesh Singh’s bowling.

Rupesh Singh finished with one for 18, while Angelo Mathews and Andre Russell claimed one wicket each as Sudurpaschim closed on 70 for 3. Sudurpaschim were 51 for 3 after 4.1 overs, still needing 55 off the last five balls, and even Kuggeleijn’s late hitting could not close that gap.

First win, second defeat

Biratnagar’s win opens their account. They sit on two points from three matches, with their season now alive after two defeats in which they had still shown fight — eight runs against Chitwan, four wickets against Karnali. Their next match is against Janakpur on 3 November, and a second straight win there would lift them firmly into the playoff race.

Sudurpaschim stay on two points from three matches, with one win and two defeats. They had beaten Pokhara by six wickets in Match 4 after losing the opener to Lumbini by seven wickets, and their next match is against Chitwan on 2 November. For Dipendra Singh Airee’s side, the five-over defeat stings less than a full-match loss might have — but the points table does not distinguish, and two points from three games is now a record that needs wins to improve.