Biratnagar Kings vs Lumbini Lions, NPL, Today Match Prediction 04 December 2024

BK vs LBL Match Prediction & Analysis

Biratnagar Kings square off against Lumbini Lions in the seventh match of the inaugural season of Nepal Premier League 2024. The match is scheduled to be played at  Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur and the start time is 1:00 PM IST.  It has been a really one sided tournament so far where none of the games have gone to the last over and with both the teams clashing off for the first time this season anything is possible. 

Current Standings - The Biratnagar Kings with two losses in two matches currently stand at fifth position in the NPL points table while the Lumbini Lions will make their first appearance of the tournament.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

BK

L L

SPR

182/7 in 20.0 9.1

NPL

Sudurpaschim Royals beat Biratnagar Kings by 90 runs

03 Dec 2024

BK

92/10 in 16.1 5.69

BK

127/10 in 19.0 6.68

NPL

Janakpur Bolts beat Biratnagar Kings by 8 wickets 30 Nov 2024

JKB

131/2 in 15.3 8.45

LBL

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Biratnagar Kings Preview

Biratnagar Warriors have had a disappointing start to their tournament, losing both matches. In the first match, they were bowled out for a meager 127 runs against the Janakpur Bolts. The Bolts chased down the target in 15.3 overs, winning by eight wickets.

In their last match, Biratnagar won the toss and opted to bowl first. However, their bowlers failed to deliver as the Sudur Paschim Royals posted a challenging total of 182/7. Anil Kharel was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/27. Chris Sole (1/37), Ismat Alam (1/35), and Bashir Ahmad (1/9) also chipped in with wickets.

In the chase, Biratnagar were bowled out for a paltry 92 runs in 16.1 overs. Basir Ahamed (24 runs) and Rajesh Pulami (15 runs) were the only batters to reach double figures, while the other eight batters were dismissed in single digits.

With the tournament being short, every game is crucial. Biratnagar's top order has struggled to score runs in both matches. Their openers, Martin Guptill and Nicholas Kirton, are yet to find their form. Guptill, a highly experienced player, has scored 55 runs in two matches, while Kirton has managed only 14 runs. In the bowling department, Sandeep Lamichhane has gone wicketless and has an economy rate of 7.62. He needs to improve his performance in the middle overs and use his wicket-taking ability to turn the game in Biratnagar's favor.

Biratnagar Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Lokesh Bam (wk), Martin Guptill, Nicholas Kirton, Rajesh Pulami, Basir Ahamad, Ismat Alam, Dipak Bohara, Pratis GC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Sole, Anil Kharel

Biratnagar Kings Actual Playing XI:

Lokesh Bam, Martin Guptill, Nicholas Kirton, Rajesh Pulami, Basir Ahmed, Ismat Alam, Pratish G C, Dipak Bohara, Anil Kharel, Chris Sole, Sandeep Lamichhane

Lumbini Lions Preview

The Lumbini Lions are set to play their first match of the season. Here's an insight into the Lions' team, starting with their top order. Former Indian U-19 captain and current USA international Unmukt Chand will play as a wicket-keeper batter and is likely to open the innings. In 2024, he played six matches and scored 158 runs so far, striking at 119.7. Chand is one of the best players of spin and on a slightly flat track, he will be one of the key batters to watch out for.

Nepal International Rohit Paudel, who has scored 531 runs and picked up 6 wickets in 25 matches this year, is one of the highly experienced local players. He is likely to play in the middle order. Bibek Yadav scored 49 runs in 16 balls in his last T20 innings and is coming into the tournament on the back of some good form. He bats in the middle order and usually bowls between the 11th and 18th over phase. An all-round player, he can contribute with both bat and ball.

The foreign import Ben Cutting, who has played across T20 leagues around the world, has only played 2 T20s in 2024, scoring 38 runs and picking up one wicket. He is one of the clutch players who can come good in pressure situations, and the Lions will be banking on him to make an impact in the very first game. 

Ramon Simmonds, the West Indies fast bowler, will take the new ball, and with his express pace, he could be highly valuable. Alongside him, the left-arm fast bowler, Durgesh Gupta, is likely to take the new ball. In the spin department, Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar will be highly impactful in restricting the run flow in the middle overs.

Lumbini Lions Predicted Playing XI:

Unmukt Chand (wk), Aashutosh Ghiraiya, Abhishek Gautam, Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, Bibek Yadav, Ben Cutting, Dinesh Adhikari, Saad bin Zafar, Ramon Simmonds, Durgesh Gupta

Lumbini Lions Actual Playing XI:

Tom Moores, Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, Arjun Saud, Aashutosh Ghiraiya, Surya Tamang, Ramon Simmonds, Durgesh Gupta, Ben Cutting, Bibek Yadav, Saad Bin Zafar

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather is expected to be around 21°C to 23°C and a sunny day with a light wind speed of blowing between 6 to 10 KM/Hr and 57% humidity.

BK vs LBL Pitch Report

The pitch at Kirtipur has favored bowlers to a larger extent in the first two days of the tournament, with scores ranging from 130 to 140 runs. However, in the last two games, first-innings scores have exceeded 160 runs. The average first-innings score in the tournament is 144.4. Spinners have been highly effective in the middle overs, while there has been some lateral movement off the surface in the initial stages of the innings during the powerplay overs.

Toss: To Bat

Three of the five matches played at Kirtipur have been won by the teams chasing, while two games have been won by the teams batting first with the pitch being an used one and this being the second game at the same venue, the surface will slow down considerably and chasing could be difficult. We predict the team that wins the toss will opt to bat first

Our Toss Prediction - Lumbini Lions to Win the toss