NPL 2026 Live – Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions, Live Streaming Free – Fancode Live Match – KAY vs LUL 23rd, Match Live Online

Karnali Yaks and Lumbini Lions meet in a high-stakes day-night fixture at Kirtipur, with Lumbini chasing a fourth straight win and Karnali desperate to stop a slide. Lumbini have the better recent momentum, but Karnali’s head-to-head record gives them confidence.

Match details

• Match: Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions, 23rd Match

• League / Season: Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026

• Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026

• Time: 5:00 PM Nepal Time; 4:45 PM IST

• Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, Kathmandu

• Format: 20-over day-night T20 match

This is the second match of the day at Kirtipur and comes at a crucial stage of the league. Karnali are seventh with four points from five games, while Lumbini are third with seven points from five matches, making this an important opportunity for both teams in the playoff race.

Kirtipur has been a balanced venue this season, but the evening conditions may make batting slightly easier once the ball becomes softer and dew appears. The average first-innings score in recent NPL matches has been around 141 to 151, and totals between 149 and 217 have been seen at the ground.

Pace bowlers can get some early movement, but spinners are likely to become influential between overs 7 and 15 as the surface slows. A first-innings total of 160–170 should be competitive, and teams batting first have generally had the better results in the second half of the league.

Live Streaming Info:

NPL 2026 will be live: KAY vs LUL

The weather forecast is mostly clear and dry, with a low chance of rain around 15 percent. Temperatures are expected to be around 16–17°C at the start and may fall to 11–12°C later, with possible dew in the second innings.

Why it matters

Lumbini Lions are the defending champions and currently sit near the top of the table with three wins from four completed matches. A fourth consecutive victory would strengthen their playoff position and keep their momentum going into the final stretch of the league.

Karnali Yaks, meanwhile, have lost three of their five matches and need a win badly. They have shown enough quality to compete, but their inconsistent batting and recent defeat to Pokhara Avengers have left them under pressure to convert potential into points.

Current form

Karnali Yaks have won two and lost three of their five matches. Their most recent result was a 63-run defeat to Pokhara Avengers, where they conceded 217 for 3 and were unable to build enough pressure with the ball.

Before that, they had shown promise, but their campaign has lacked consistency. The batting unit needs a stronger collective contribution, particularly from the top order, while the bowling attack must find a way to contain power-hitters in the death overs.

Lumbini Lions have been much more consistent. They have won three of their four matches and are on a three-match winning streak, making them one of the form teams of the tournament.

Their batting has been led by Aasif Sheikh, D’Arcy Short, Rohit Paudel, and Niroshan Dickwella, while their bowling attack has enough variety to defend totals. Their recent wins suggest they are handling pressure situations better than Karnali at this stage.

Head-to-head

Karnali Yaks and Lumbini Lions have met twice in the NPL, and Karnali have won both matches.

In their most recent meeting, Lumbini made 156 for 8, but Karnali chased it down in just 12.2 overs, reaching 161 for 1 with 46 balls remaining. In the earlier meeting, Karnali made 128 for 8 and defended it as Lumbini finished on 123 for 7.

There have not been five completed meetings between these teams, so the last five results cannot be listed. The available record clearly favours Karnali, but Lumbini’s current form is much stronger than Karnali’s.

Karnali Yaks analysis

Karnali’s strength lies in their overseas experience and all-round depth. David Miller brings power-hitting in the middle order, while Mark Watt adds a left-arm spin option that could be useful on a slowing Kirtipur surface. Sompal Kami leads the side and provides experience with both bat and ball.

Ariful Islam and Deepak Dumre are expected to open the batting, with Pawan Sarraf, Gulshan Jha, and Hussain Talat offering flexibility in the middle order. The bowling unit includes Sompal Kami, Surya Tamang, Nandan Yadav, and Unish Thakuri, giving Karnali several options across phases.

Their weakness is consistency. They have lost three of five matches, and their recent heavy defeat to Pokhara showed how quickly momentum can slip away when the top order fails. They need a more disciplined bowling effort, especially in the middle overs, to challenge Lumbini’s strong batting lineup.

Key players: David Miller, Mark Watt, Sompal Kami, Ariful Islam, Deepak Dumre, Gulshan Jha.

Probable XI: Ariful Islam, Gulshan Jha, Pawan Sarraf, David Miller, Hussain Talat, Deepak Dumre, Sompal Kami, Mark Watt, Surya Tamang, Nandan Yadav, Unish Thakuri.

Lumbini Lions analysis

Lumbini’s biggest strength is their batting depth. Aasif Sheikh and D’Arcy Short can give them a fast start, while Rohit Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, and Sundeep Jora provide experience and stability in the middle order.

Their bowling attack is also well balanced. Ruben Trumpelmann brings left-arm pace, Sher Malla and Tilak Bhandari add domestic variety, and Abhishesh Gautam provides an additional bowling option. This mix gives Lumbini the ability to attack early and control the middle overs.

The main concern is whether they can maintain their winning run under pressure. Karnali have beaten them twice before, including a dominant nine-wicket win last season, so Lumbini will need to respect the head-to-head history even though their current form is stronger.

Key players: Aasif Sheikh, D’Arcy Short, Rohit Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, Ruben Trumpelmann, Sher Malla.

Probable XI: Aasif Sheikh, D’Arcy Short, Rohit Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, Sundeep Jora, Dinesh Adhikari, Tilak Bhandari, Abhishesh Gautam, Sher Malla, Ruben Trumpelmann, Durgesh Gupta.

Key talking points

• Can Karnali end their losing run and improve their playoff position?

• Will Lumbini make it four wins in a row?

• David Miller and Mark Watt could be decisive for Karnali in the middle and death overs.

• Aasif Sheikh and D’Arcy Short’s opening partnership will be crucial for Lumbini.

• The toss could be important, as batting first has generally been successful at Kirtipur in recent matches.

Lumbini Lions start as slight favourites because of their stronger recent form, better points position, and more consistent batting depth. Their three-match winning streak gives them confidence, and their bowling attack looks capable of exploiting Karnali’s inconsistency.

However, Karnali’s 2–0 head-to-head record cannot be ignored. If David Miller or Mark Watt fires and Karnali’s bowlers strike early, they can certainly challenge Lumbini.

The prediction is Lumbini Lions to win, but the margin may be small. A total around 160–170 should be competitive, and the side batting first may have a slight advantage given the recent trend at Kirtipur.