One playoff spot up for grabs

Sudurpaschim Royals triumphed over Pokhara Avengers by a narrow five-run margin in their Nepal Premier League (NPL) clash at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Sunday.

With this win, Sudurpaschim have secured a spot in the playoffs, sitting atop the table with 10 points, alongside Janakpur Bolts, who have also qualified. Chitwan Rhinos, with eight points, have secured their place in the playoffs as well.

The final playoff spot will be decided in the upcoming match between Karnali Yaks and Sudurpaschim Royals on Monday. If Karnali suffers a heavy defeat, Kathmandu Gurkhas will qualify for the playoffs. Karnali, however, will secure a place in the playoffs despite a competitive loss.

The top two teams in the league will face off in the first qualifier, with the winner advancing to the final, while the losing team will get another chance in the second qualifier. The third and fourth-placed teams will compete in the eliminator, with the winner moving to the second qualifier.

The Royals posted a challenging total of 153/7 in 20 overs, and despite a determined chase by Pokhara, they were restricted to 148 all out in 19.4 overs. Scott Kuggeleijn was the standout performer, claiming an impressive five wickets for just 18 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award. His brilliant bowling spell helped thwart Pokhara’s chase as they fell agonizingly short of the target.

The Royals’ innings saw steady contributions, with Aarif Sheikh leading the charge, scoring 42 off 38 balls. Despite early wickets, Sudur Paschim managed to post a total of 153/7, with notable contributions from Brandon McMullen (23) and Dipendra Singh Airee (20).

In reply, Pokhara Avengers were off to a shaky start, with key batsmen falling early. Andries Gous top-scored with 36, while Kiran Thagunna contributed 32. However, Kuggeleijn’s brilliant spell and Harmeet Singh’s support, claiming three wickets for 26 runs, ultimately led to the Avengers’ downfall as they were dismissed for 148.

In the first game on Sunday, Kathmandu Gurkhas secured a nail-biting victory over Biratnagar Kings, winning by one wicket with 11 balls to spare.

Chasing a target of 118, Kathmandu’s top-order faced early setbacks, losing key wickets at regular intervals. Stephen Eskinazi (1), Michael Levitt (10), and Gerhard Erasmus (12) all fell cheaply, leaving the Gurkhas struggling at 24/4. However, a gritty 39 from Pratik Shrestha and a crucial 14 from Rashid Khan brought the team back on track.

Dipesh Kandel played a match-winning cameo, remaining unbeaten on 11 off 5 balls, helping Kathmandu over the line with 120/9 in 18.1 overs. Despite the tense chase, Kathmandu managed to reach their target with 11 balls remaining.

Earlier, Biratnagar Kings posted a total of 117, with their top scorers being Dipak Bohara (20) and Rajesh Pulami (25). Kathmandu’s bowlers, led by Dipesh Kandel (2/16) and Sandeep Lamichhane (3/19), proved pivotal in restricting the Kings to a modest total.

Kandel’s all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award, having contributed with both bat and ball.

In Saturday’s match between Chitwan Rhinos and Janakpur Bolts, Jimmy Neesham scored a blistering half-century off just 18 balls. He hit four fours and five sixes during his rapid innings. Neesham was initially caught on the first ball of the 15th over, but it was a no-ball. At that point, Neesham had scored 58 runs. He then hit a six off the subsequent free hit before being dismissed on the fourth ball. Neesham finished with 65 runs from 24 balls, including five fours and six sixes. This was the fastest half-century in NPL history.

Despite Neesham’s explosive knock, Janakpur lost the match by 32 runs.