Playoffs stage set for Wednesday

Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur will host two crucial matches in the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday. The Eliminator will feature Chitwan Rhinos against Karnali Yaks at 9:00 am, with both teams fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive. The loser will be eliminated from the competition.

Later in the day, the Qualifier 1 match will see the Sudurpaschim Royals face off against the Janakpur Bolts at 1:00 pm. The winner will secure a direct ticket to the final, while the loser will have another chance to qualify through the second qualifier. There are rumors that Janakpur skipper Anil Sah has sustained an injury and is likely to miss the remaining matches, which would be a significant blow to the team. According to sources, marquee player Aasif Sheikh is set to take over as captain. However, an official announcement is yet to be made.

The Chitwan Rhinos finished the league stage in third place, amassing eight points from seven matches. Their journey to the playoffs has been a mix of triumphs and setbacks. Chitwan started strong with back-to-back wins against Kathmandu Gurkhas on Dec 2, where they chased down the target with five wickets in hand and 17 balls to spare, and Pokhara Avengers on Dec 3, securing a massive 87-run victory. However, their momentum faltered with a narrow loss to Karnali Yaks on Dec 6, who chased down the target with one ball remaining.

The team rebounded with a convincing 33-run win over Sudurpaschim on Dec 8, but faced two consecutive defeats against Lumbini Lions (by 33 runs on Dec 10) and Biratnagar Kings (by 51 runs on Dec 13). They ended the league stage on a high note, defeating Janakpur Bolts by 32 runs on Dec 14, which secured their place in the playoffs.

Chitwan will now face the Karnali Yaks in the Eliminator, aiming to keep their championship hopes alive and secure a spot in Qualifier 2. This match also presents an opportunity for revenge, as Karnali had defeated them earlier in the league stage.

The Yaks finished the league stage in fourth place, earning eight points from seven matches. Despite a rocky start, Karnali showed remarkable resilience, winning four of their last five games to secure a playoff spot. Karnali began their campaign with two consecutive losses—against Janakpur on Dec 2 (by eight wickets with 29 balls remaining) and Kathmandu on Dec 4 (by three wickets with three balls to spare). However, they bounced back dramatically, defeating Chitwan on Dec 6 in a nail-biting match, chasing the target with one ball remaining.

Karnali’s winning streak continued with a seven-run victory over Biratnagar on Dec 7, a dominant seven-wicket win over Pokhara on Dec 10, and a thrilling five-run triumph against Lumbini on Dec 13. Their momentum was briefly halted in their final league match on Dec 16, where they lost to Sudurpaschim by six wickets, with 28 balls to spare. Had they won, Karnali would have secured second place, pushing Janakpur into the Eliminator and gaining the advantage of playing in Qualifier 1 instead.

The Qualifier 1 match between Sudurpaschim and Janakpur will determine which team advances to the final. Sudurpaschim finished the league stage in first place with 12 points from seven matches. With six wins and just one loss, the Royals showcased exceptional consistency and all-around performance. They began their campaign with a 90-run win over Biratnagar on Dec 3, followed by a 73-run victory over Kathmandu on Dec 5. After defeating Lumbini by 45 runs on Dec 7, they suffered their only loss on Dec 8, to Chitwan by 33 runs.

Sudurpaschim bounced back with a thumping 72-run win over Janakpur on Dec 11, a five-run victory over Pokhara on Dec 15, and a comprehensive six-wicket win over Karnali on Dec 16, chasing the target with 28 balls to spare. With their top-of-the-table finish, the Royals head directly into Qualifier 1, where they will face second-placed Janakpur for a chance to book their spot in the final.

The Janakpur Bolts, with 10 points from seven matches, have demonstrated resilience and firepower. They began their campaign with an eight-wicket win over Biratnagar on Nov 30, followed by another eight-wicket victory over Karnali on Dec 2. They then defeated Pokhara by seven wickets on Dec 5 and edged past Lumbini in a thrilling one-run victory on Dec 8. However, the Bolts stumbled against Sudurpaschim on Dec 11, suffering a heavy 72-run defeat. The Bolts quickly bounced back with a five-wicket win over Kathmandu on Dec 12, chasing the target with 25 balls to spare, but fell short against Chitwan in their final league match on Dec 14, losing by 32 runs.

Qualifier 1 will also provide Janakpur with a chance for revenge, as the Royals had previously humiliated the Bolts.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Tuesday also announced the prize for the NPL winner. The winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 11m, while the runner-up will receive Rs 5.1m. The third and fourth-placed teams will be awarded Rs 2.5m and Rs 1.5m, respectively.