Sudurpaschim Crush Biratnagar to Enter NPL Final

Sudurpaschim Royals stormed into the Nepal Premier League (NPL) final after crushing Biratnagar Kings by 77 runs in Qualifier 1 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu on Tuesday, December 9. The Kings, chasing 156, were bowled out for 78 in 14.1 overs.

The win also served as payback for the Royals. Biratnagar had ended their unbeaten run on December 6 by chasing 148 in just 11.5 overs. That result had pushed the Kings into second place, securing their Qualifier 1 berth.

Notably, the Royals lost to Janakpur Bolts in last year’s NPL final. The defending champions finished at the bottom of the table this season, with only one win from seven league matches.

Biratnagar still have a chance to reach the final. They play the second qualifier against the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator between Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions.

Biratnagar’s chase collapsed from the first ball. Sam Heazlett fell for a golden duck. Martin Guptill was run out off the final ball of the first over. Naren Bhatta then departed for another golden duck. The scoreboard was 3/3 in 1.1 overs.

Faf du Plessis held one end but had no support. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Basir Ahamad made 12 off 8. Lokesh Bam scored 5 off 6. Narayan Joshi departed for 1 off 3. Pratis GC made 3 off 5. Skipper Sandeep Lamichhane could make only 3 off 5.

Faf top-scored with 36 off 29. Marchant de Lange, batting at No. 9, added 15 off 11.

Scott Kuggeleijn, Harmeet Singh, and Abinash Bohara took two wickets each for Sudurpaschim. Dipendra Singh Airee and Hemant Dhami claimed one each.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim posted 155/7 after being sent in to bat. Opener Binod Bhandari anchored the innings with 63 off 52, striking three fours and two sixes. Aasif Sheikh and Sheldon Jackson made 20 each. Harjit Singh scored 14. Ishan Pandey added 13. Opener Mukhtar Ahmed, signed to replace Chris Lynn, chipped in with 10.

Bhandari was named player of the match.

For Biratnagar, Pratis GC and de Lange took two wickets each. Surya Tamang and Heazlett claimed one apiece.