NPL Double-Header Today – Lumbini Lions Face Janakpur Bolts
Kirtipur, Kathmandu — Following Wednesday’s scheduled rest day, the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 3 returns with an electric Thursday double-header today, November 5, 2026, at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Action begins at Today · 12:30 PM NPT with a titanic clash of champions between unbeaten table-toppers Lumbini Lions and the Janakpur Bolts, followed at Today · 5:00 PM NPT by Biratnagar Kings squaring off against Kathmandu Gorkhas under the floodlights.
With the 28-match league stage crossing its official halfway mark today (15 of 28 fixtures completed by tonight), every point earned in Kirtipur carries direct consequences for the four playoff spots.
Match 14 (Today · 12:30 PM NPT): Table-Toppers Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts
This afternoon’s opening fixture brings together the only two franchises ever to have lifted the NPL trophy—2025 defending champions Lumbini Lions and 2024 inaugural champions Janakpur Bolts:
- Lumbini Lions (1st Place – 5 Points): Led by national team skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel, the defending champions stand as the sole remaining unbeaten team in Season 3 (two dominant victories plus one shared point from Saturday’s rain washout). In Tuesday’s comprehensive 8-wicket demolition of Pokhara Avengers, Namibian left-arm speedster Ruben Trumpelmann took 3/16 before Paudel stroked an unbeaten 47 off 32 balls to seal the chase in just 11.4 overs. A third victory today moves Lumbini to 7 points and places one foot inside the playoffs.
- Janakpur Bolts (4 Points): Anil Sah’s Bolts arrive needing an immediate rebound after falling agonizingly short by 2 runs (172/7 chasing 175) against Biratnagar Kings on Tuesday. Powered by Bangladesh international Saif Hassan (fresh off a sparkling 71 off 48 balls), Trit Raj Das (61 on Sunday), Moeen Ali, and Jimmy Neesham, Janakpur have the world-class depth to challenge Lumbini’s relentless bowling unit.
Match 15 (Today · 5:00 PM NPT): Biratnagar Kings vs Kathmandu Gorkhas
Under the evening floodlights at 5:00 PM NPT, two teams energised by momentum-shifting victories go head-to-head:
- Biratnagar Kings (3 Points): Sandeep Lamichhane’s Kings bounced back emphatically on Tuesday thanks to an Andre Russell masterclass (52* off 29 balls and 4/45, including defending three runs off the final delivery). Alongside Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews, Biratnagar aim to break into the top four.
- Kathmandu Gorkhas (2 Points): Karan KC and David Warner’s Gorkhas pulled off the chase of the tournament on Monday afternoon, hauling down 181 to defeat Karnali Yaks behind Rashid Khan’s 50 and Karan KC’s blistering 44 off 20 deliveries.
Today’s NPL Thursday Double-Header Schedule
| Match | Fixture | Kickoff / Start Time (NPT) | Key Stakes & Marquee Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 14 (Day) | Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts | Today · 12:30 PM NPT | Unbeaten leaders Lumbini (5 pts) vs Janakpur (4 pts) in clash of NPL champions (Rohit Paudel vs Moeen Ali) |
| Match 15 (Evening) | Biratnagar Kings vs Kathmandu Gorkhas | Today · 5:00 PM NPT | Andre Russell & Sandeep Lamichhane battle Karan KC, Rashid Khan & David Warner |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do today’s NPL double-header matches start?
Match 14 between Lumbini Lions and Janakpur Bolts starts at Today · 12:30 PM NPT, while Match 15 between Biratnagar Kings and Kathmandu Gorkhas begins under floodlights at Today · 5:00 PM NPT at Tribhuvan University Ground in Kirtipur.
Where are the NPL matches played?
All Nepal Premier League Season 3 matches are hosted at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu.
