KATHMANDU: Sudurpashchim Royals has secured a place in the final of Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 2 after a comfortable victory over Biratnagar Bolts in the first qualifier match played on Tuesday.
At the TU International Cricket Ground, Biratnagar, while chasing a target of 156 runs, were bundled out for just 78 runs in 14.1 overs. Sudurpashchim won the match by 77 runs.
Biratnagar’s total of 78 was the lowest score of the season. Earlier, Chitwan Rhinos had scored 89 runs while chasing a target of 142 against Kathmandu Gorkhas in the league stage.
Biratnagar had earlier secured a spot in the first qualifier by defeating Sudurpashchim in the league stage. Sudurpashchim avenged that defeat with this win.
Biratnagar will now face the winner of the eliminator match between Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions in the second qualifier. If they win that match, they will get another chance to face Sudurpashchim in the final.
The key performer for Sudurpashchim was opener Binod Bhandari, who scored 63 runs off 52 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes. He remained at the crease until the final ball of the 18th over.
Sudurpashchim scored 155 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Sheldon Jackson and Arif Sheikh both contributed 20 runs each. Harmit Singh scored 14, while opener Mukhtar Ahmed added 10 runs.
In reply, Biratnagar’s Sam Heazllet was dismissed for a golden duck, and Naren Bhatt was also out for a duck. Martin Guptill scored just 3 runs and was run out.
Faf du Plessis top-scored for Biratnagar with 36 runs off 29 balls, including three fours and one six. Basit Ahmad made 12 and Marchant de Lange added 15 runs. No other batter reached double figures.
After losing two wickets in the very first over, Biratnagar never recovered and failed to build any momentum in their chase.
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