One of Kathmandu and Biratnagar will play against Sudurpaschim in Qualifier-1 to qualify for the final.
What you should know
Sudurpaschim Royals have entered the Qualifier-1 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket for the second consecutive year. Sudurpaschim defeated Chitwan Rhinos by 49 runs in the second match on Thursday, maintaining their 100 percent victory streak.
Sudurpaschim has reached the finals by winning the first 6 games. With this victory of Sudurpaschim, Biratnagar Kings have also secured a place in the playoffs. Sudurpaschim has 12 points, Kathmandu Gorkhas has 10 and Biratnagar has 8 points. Kathmandu and Biratnagar have reached the playoffs for the first time.
One of Kathmandu and Biratnagar will play Sudurpaschim in Qualifier-1 to enter the finals. Only if Biratnagar defeats Sudurpaschim by a large margin in the match to be played on Saturday, there is a possibility of surpassing Kathmandu in net run rate.
If Lumbini Lions defeat Janakpur Bolt in the match to be played on Friday, they will reach the playoffs as the fourth team. Otherwise, one of Lumbini, Janakpur, Chitwan and Pokhara Avengers will have a chance of reaching the playoffs.
Chitwan Tribhuvan Cricket International Stadium, which came with a target of 170 runs to win, was all out for 120 runs in 17.1 overs at Kirtipur. Veteran Ravi Bopara scored the highest score for Chitwan at 29. He hit 1 four and 2 sixes in 23 balls. Dev Khanal scored 28 off 19 balls with 3 fours, Arjun Saud 16, captain Kushal Malla 15, David Malan and Saif Zaib each scored 6, and Amar Singh Rautela scored 9. Sudurpaschim's Punit Mehra took 3 wickets. He gave away 14 runs in 2.1 overs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airi, Avinash Bohra, Ishan Pandey and Hikmat Mahara, who was playing his first match in the tournament, took 1 wicket each. Sudurpaschim, who were invited to bat after losing the toss earlier, scored 169 runs for 1 in the stipulated 20 overs, losing 4 wickets to opener Chris Lynn's 75 runs.
Lynn was also very lucky. Chitwan's captain Kushal Malla managed to drop an easy return catch of Lynn when he was on 2 runs. It cost Chitwan a lot. He hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in a total of 56 balls. He retired hurt in the 17th over and left the field.
The opening pair of Lin Binod Bhandari scored 21 runs in 17 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six. Ishan 1, Punit, who was playing his first match in the tournament, was out for 13, and Harmit 1 run. Arif Sheikh and Dipendra both remained unbeaten on 24 runs. Arif hit 2 fours and 1 six in 16 balls and Dipendra hit 2 sixes in 14 balls.
From Chitwan, Jaib took 2 wickets. He had spent 35 runs in 4 overs. Ranjit Kumar took 16 in 4 overs and George Scrimshaw took 1 wicket each, spending 40 runs in 4 overs.
