Pokhara Have Found Their Batting, Biratnagar Need to Find Theirs: A Must-Win Afternoon at Kirtipur

Biratnagar Kings are sixth, with four points from five games (two wins, three defeats) and a net run rate of -0.820. They beat Sudurpaschim in a five-over game and Janakpur by two runs, when Andre Russell made 52 not out off 29 and took 4 for 45, but on Thursday last week they were bowled out for 83 and Kathmandu won by nine wickets. Pokhara Avengers are bottom, on two points, after losing their first four games. Then, on Monday, everything clicked: they made 217 for 3 against Karnali, Yuvraj Samra hit 102 off 48 and Kushal Bhurtel 62 off 39, and they won by 63 runs. Both sides have two league games left, and only the top four go through, so the side that loses here may be out of it.

The Kirtipur pitch has been good for batting in the afternoon games. Monday's 217 for 3 came in the 12:15 PM start, and Biratnagar themselves made 174 for 3 in the same slot against Janakpur. But it has also punished sides that lose early wickets, as Biratnagar found out against Kathmandu. Around 170 may be a good score. Biratnagar's batting depends a lot on Lokesh Bam, who has 194 runs including 87 off 52 against Karnali, and on Russell at the end. For Pokhara, Mahedi Hasan took 3 for 24 on Monday and has been their steadiest bowler.

A possible Kings XI, based on their last game: Shehan Jayasuriya, Lokesh Bam, Imran Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Angelo Mathews, N Joshi, SS Ranjane, Andre Russell, Rupesh Singh, Sandeep Lamichhane, A Poudel. A possible Avengers XI, based on Monday's side: Kushal Bhurtel, Yuvraj Samra, Mahedi Hasan, Sunny BK, Chamika Karunaratne, K Thagunna, Arjun Kumal, Arjun Gharti, D Lakshan, Bipin Khatri, BR Magar. Biratnagar may well make changes after the defeat to Kathmandu.