Sudurpaschim Royals Triumph Over Karnali Yaks by 6 Wickets, Playoff Setup Finalized in NPL

Sudurpaschim Royals sealed a dominant six-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks in the final match of the league stage of the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 Cricket Tournament. The Royals successfully chased down the 102-run target set by Karnali, reaching the target in 15.2 overs while losing four wickets. The match took place at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Ishan Pandey were the standout performers with the bat, each scoring 38 runs for Sudurpaschim. Other notable contributions came from Saif Zaib (11), Binod Bhandari (4), Aarif Sheikh (4), and Brandon MacMullen (3). Sudurpaschim also benefitted from seven extra runs.

In bowling, Sudurpaschim’s captain Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma, and Nandan Yadav each took a wicket.

Earlier, Karnali Yaks, after losing the toss and being put to bat, struggled to reach 101 runs in their allotted 20 overs, losing all 10 wickets. Zeeshan Maqsood was the top scorer for Karnali with 30 runs off 35 balls, including four boundaries. Other contributions came from William Bosisto (16), Babar Hayat (13), and captain Sompal Kami and Chadwick Walton, who each scored 11. Dev Khanal (7), Arjun Gharti (3 not-out), and Gulshan Jha (2) added to the tally, while Karnali received 8 extra runs.

For Sudurpaschim, Harmeet Singh was the leading bowler with three wickets. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Scott Kuggeleijn each took two wickets, while Saif Zaib took one.

Playoff Lineup Confirmed

With the conclusion of the league stage, the playoff lineup for the NPL has been finalized. Despite their defeat, Karnali Yaks have secured a spot in the playoffs, while Kathmandu Gurkhas have been eliminated.

The teams advancing to the playoffs are Janakpur Bolts, Chitwan Rhinos, Sudurpaschim Royals, and Karnali Yaks. Sudurpaschim Royals will face Janakpur Bolts in the first qualifier, while Chitwan Rhinos will take on Karnali Yaks in the eliminator match. The playoff matches are set to determine the finalists as the competition heads into its exciting conclusion.