Andre Russell’s unbeaten 52 from 29 balls and a scorecard-recorded 4/45 helped Biratnagar Kings defeat Janakpur Bolts by two runs in the NPL 2026 match played on 3 November. Biratnagar made 174/3 from 20 overs. Janakpur closed on 172/7 from its 20. The completed ESPNcricinfo scorecard records those figures. Nepal News also reported the two-run result on 3 November. Russell’s late runs and four wickets stood out in a finish decided by the narrow gap between the totals.
Key Takeaways
- Russell’s 52* from 29 balls, including 2 fours and 5 sixes, gave Biratnagar a late-innings lift; the completed ESPNcricinfo scorecard also records him at 4/45 from four overs.
- Biratnagar’s 174/3 was built around Lokesh Bam’s 50 from 40 balls and Imran Sheikh’s 56 from 45, with Russell finishing unbeaten on 52.
- Janakpur reached 172/7, so the two-run loss was a close chase rather than a collapse; the result turned on the final gap between the totals.
- Nepal News’s earlier report listed three Russell wickets, while the completed ESPNcricinfo scorecard lists four. The bowling figures below are attributed to the completed scorecard without speculating about the difference.
Russell’s batting and bowling defined the margin
The completed ESPNcricinfo scorecard records Russell’s 52 not out from 29 deliveries, with 2 fours and 5 sixes. It also records 4/45 from his four overs and names him Player of the Match (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
Those contributions mattered in a two-run game. Russell added runs at the end of the first innings. He then took four wickets during the chase (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
The scorecard’s bowling log attributes wickets to Russell at 4.2, 4.4, 19.2 and 19.6. His final return was four wickets for 45 runs from four overs (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
There is one source discrepancy to keep visible. Nepal News’s 3 November match report credits Russell with three wickets. The completed ESPNcricinfo scorecard records 4/45 and four dismissals. This article attributes the bowling line to the completed scorecard without inventing a reason or claiming an official correction (Nepal News; ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
Biratnagar’s 174/3 created the platform
The scorecard records Biratnagar’s total at 174/3 from 20 overs. Lokesh Bam made 50 from 40 balls. Imran Sheikh scored 56 from 45. Russell added an unbeaten 52 from 29. Those listed contributions shaped the innings: Bam and Sheikh supplied the main scores before Russell’s unbeaten finish lifted the total (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
The completed scorecard provides the following figures (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
| Match or player line | Verified scorecard figure |
|---|---|
| Biratnagar Kings | 174/3 in 20 overs |
| Imran Sheikh | 56 from 45 balls |
| Lokesh Bam | 50 from 40 balls |
| Andre Russell | 52* from 29 balls; 2 fours, 5 sixes |
| Shubham Ranjane | 7* from 5 balls |
| Russell’s bowling | 4/45 from 4 overs |
| Janakpur Bolts | 172/7 in 20 overs |
The totals explain the result: Biratnagar scored 174/3 and Janakpur 172/7 after both innings used 20 overs. It was a close defence, not a comfortable victory. Readers can follow related results on the NPL news page.
Janakpur finished two runs below Biratnagar’s total
Janakpur’s 172/7 from 20 overs shows how close the chase became (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard). The innings finished two runs below Biratnagar’s total of 174. Because 175 was required to win, Janakpur was three runs short of the target. The scorecard records seven wickets down at the end of the allotted overs (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
The completed totals are the clearest way to read the finish. Russell’s scorecard-recorded wickets helped protect the small advantage, while the existing Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts match prediction remains pre-match context rather than a substitute for this result.
The dated NPL context after the result
The match was played on 3 November 2026, and this article was prepared on 4 November. For wider competition context, readers can use the NPL overview, NPL points table and NPL schedule. The lasting takeaway from this completed result is the margin: 174/3 versus 172/7, with Russell’s 52* and ESPNcricinfo-attributed 4/45 attached to a two-run NPL win (ESPNcricinfo completed scorecard).
Sources
- Biratnagar Kings v Janakpur Bolts — full scorecard — ESPNcricinfo, match played 3 November 2026; directly opened and checked 4 November 2026.
- Biratnagar Kings edge Janakpur Bolts by two runs — Nepal News, report dated 3 November 2026; checked against the completed scorecard on 4 November 2026.
Cover credit: original factual score illustration, not a match photograph.
Editorial note
The CricWin24 Editorial Team prepares cricket coverage from completed scorecards and dated reports. See the editorial policy.
