Due to poor batting in Qualifier-1, Biratnagar was bundled out for 78 runs in 14.1 overs, and Sudurpaschim celebrated their entry into the final.
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Sudurpaschim Royals are set to play in the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) for the second consecutive season. They defeated Biratnagar Kings by 77 runs in Qualifier-1 held at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Tuesday.
Last season too, Sudurpaschim had reached the final by defeating Janakpur Bolts in Qualifier-1.
Defeated Biratnagar will now play Qualifier-2. In that, their opponent will be the winner of the Eliminator. Kathmandu Gorkhaz and Lumbini Lions are playing in the Eliminator on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 156 runs to win, Biratnagar was all out for 78 runs in 14.1 overs. With this, Sudurpaschim has avenged its only defeat against Biratnagar in the league stage.
Biratnagar's Faf du Flessis scored 36 runs and was caught by Deependra Singh Airey off Scott Kugglen. He was the highest run-scorer. As an opener, Flessis hit three fours and a six in 29 balls. Biratnagar did not start well and opener Sam Hazlett was dismissed on the first ball of the innings. Martin Guptill was dismissed after scoring two runs. Naren Bhatt also failed to open his account. In this way, Biratnagar had lost three wickets for three runs. When the score touched 42 runs, Bashir Ahmed was caught by Dipendra Singh Airi. Milan Bohara dismissed Lokesh Bam for an individual score of five runs, and Biratnagar had lost five wickets for 50 runs. Narayan Joshi also scored just one run and Pratish GC added only three runs before being run out. Merchant de Lange's bat gave away 15 runs towards the end.
Earlier, with the help of opener Vinod Bhandari's half-century, Sudurpaschim scored 155 runs for the loss of seven wickets. He top-scored with 63 runs. He hit three fours and two sixes in 52 balls. This is his second half-century this season. Apart from him, others could not contribute significantly. Another opener, Pakistani batter Mukhtar Ahjam, playing his first match, scored only 10 runs.
Similarly, Seldon Jackson also scored 20 runs in 11 balls in his first match. Ishan Pandey was out after scoring 13 runs off Hazlett. Naren Bhatt took a sensational catch in the boundary. Dipendra Singh Airi also could not contribute much and was run out after scoring only three runs. Harmeet Singh could only score 14 runs. Arif Sheikh scored 20 runs towards the end of the innings. Among the bowlers of Biratnagar, Pratish and Lange took two wickets each.
