KATHMANDU, Dec 16: Sudurpaschim Royals have qualified for the playoffs of the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a match to spare, beating Pokhara Avengers by 5 runs in an exciting match on Sunday.
The Royals have accumulated 10 points from 6 matches. Avengers, on the other hand, have been eliminated from the league stage having amassed only 4 points.
Along with the Royals, Bolts and Rhinos have qualified for the playoffs. Rhinos have qualified for the playoffs by overtaking Kathmandu Gurkhas on net run rate, having amassed the same eight points. Gurkhas defeated Biratnagar Kings by one wicket in the first match of Saturday.
The final match of the league stage between Royals and Karnali Yaks on Monday will decide the final team to qualify for the playoffs. If Royals win, they will play the qualifier 1 against Janakpur, and the winner will seal a spot in the final match.
NPL: Royals and Bolts to play first qualifier, Rhinos and Yaks...
If Royals lose, the top two teams among Royals, Bolts and Yaks, all of whom will have Eight points each, will play the qualifier 1 based on net run rate. If Yaks win the match on Monday, Gurkhas will also be stopped in the league stage. If Royals win, one of Yaks or Gurkhas, will secure a place in the playoffs based on net run rate.
Chasing a target of 154 runs on Sunday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Avengers were bundled out for 148 runs in 19.4 overs. In the Avengers’ innings, captain Kushal Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck, Andries Gous scored 36 runs, Raymon Reifer scored 33 runs and Kiran Thagunna 32 runs, but they could not avoid defeat.
The main reason behind Avengers’ defeat was the quick loss of five wickets in the last 10 balls. New Zealander allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn took a five-wicket haul in 3.4 overs for the Royals. Harmit Singh took three wickets, and Saif Zaib claimed a wicket.
Earlier, Royals, who batted first, scored 153 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. For them, Arif Sheikh scored 42(not out) and Brendon McMullen scored 23 runs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed for 20 runs.
For the Avengers, Captain Kushal Bhurtel took 2 wickets and Raymon Reifer, Sagar Dhakal and Mitchell Leask took one wicket each.
Earlier in the first match of the day, Gurkhas achieved the target of 118 runs set by Kings for the loss of 9 wickets in 18.1 overs. Prateek Shrestha scored 39 and Shankar Rana scored 16 (not out) in their victory. Kings’ captain Sandeep Lamichhane took 3 wickets and Anil Kharel, Basir Ahmad and Chris Sole took 2 wickets each.
Kings, who had batted first, were all out for 117 runs with one ball remaining in the allotted overs. Rajesh Pulami top-scored with 25 runs and Deepak Bohora scored 20 runs.
From the Gurkhas’ bowling front, Gerhard Erasmus took 3 wickets and Dipesh Kandel took 2 wickets to restrict Kings at a low total.
