The Nepal Premier League playoffs will begin on Wednesday at the TU International Cricket Ground. The first match will feature Chitwan Rhinos facing Karnali Yaks in the eliminator, followed by Janakpur Bolts taking on Sudurpaschim Royals in the second match. The loser of the eliminator will be knocked out, while the winning team will play the loser of the first qualifier in the second qualifier on Thursday. The winner of both qualifiers will advance to the final on Saturday.
Chitwan Rhinos vs Karnali Yaks
Karnali Yaks won their first match of the tournament against Chitwan Rhinos, who faced their first defeat in the league against Karnali. The two teams played a thrilling contest, with Karnali Yaks winning in the last over while chasing 131 runs. Bipin Sharma was named player of the match for his impressive figures of 3/21 with the ball.
Both teams have concerns over their batting, with Chitwan Rhinos heavily reliant on Ravi Bopara and Kushal Malla. Ravi Bopara scored a half-century in their league match against Karnali, but rumors of an injury could impact his availability for the playoffs. Kushal Malla has been in great form, scoring 202 runs from seven innings.
If Bopara is unavailable, Luc Benkenstein could replace him, while Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton may return in place of UAE all-rounder Basil Hameed. Karnali Yaks have a strong bowling attack, so Chitwan Rhinos must be at their best with the bat to have a chance of progressing to the second qualifier. Karnali also faces batting struggles, as shown in their loss to Sudurpaschim Royals, where they were bowled out for just 101 runs.
Chitwan’s bowling attack, led by Sohail Tanveer and Rijan Dhakal, is considered the best among the top four teams, and morning conditions will favor them if they bowl first.
Karnali Yaks might keep the same playing XI, with Rit Gautam likely to feature after his debut against Sudurpaschim, adding depth to their batting.
Karnali Yaks Probable Playing XI: Dev Khanal, Babar Hayat, Rit Gautam, Chadwick Walton, William Bosisto, Gulshan Jha, Zeeshan Maqsood, Arjun Gharti, Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma, Nandan Yadav
Chitwan Rhinos Probable Playing XI: Santosh Karki, Hassan Eisakhil, Bipin Rawal, Deepak Bohara, Ravi Bopara/Luc Benkenstein, Kushal Malla, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Amar Singh Routela, Rijan Dhakal, Sohail Tanveer, Ranjit Kumar
Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts
Janakpur Bolts endured their weakest performance of the league stage when they were bowled out for just 51 runs against Sudurpaschim Royals. Only Joshua Tromp reached double digits, scoring 13 runs, while the Royals bowlers, led by Dipendra Singh Airee, were exceptional in defending a low target. Janakpur’s batting struggles, particularly Asif Sheikh’s poor form (114 runs from seven innings), remain a concern.
Asif is known for performing well in big matches, and the Bolts will be hoping for a strong showing from him in the first qualifier. Miscommunication between Janakpur’s batters cost them in their match against Chitwan Rhinos, but their bowling attack is solid, with Lalit Rajbanshi in brilliant form, particularly during the powerplay, and Kishore Mahato’s excellent death bowling.
Sudurpaschim Royals, on the other hand, have found their rhythm in recent matches, reducing their dependence on individual players. They now enter the playoffs as the favourites for the title but will need to manage the pressure of big-match situations. Both teams are expected to field unchanged lineups from their previous match.
Janakpur Bolts Probable Playing XI: Asif Sheikh, Anil Sah, Lahiru Milantha, Harsh Thaker, Subh Kansakar, Jimmy Neesham, Mohammad Moshin, Sher Malla, Arniko Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato
Sudurpaschim Royals Probable Playing XI: Saif Zaib, Binod Bhandari, Brendon McMullen, Harmeet Singh, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey, Naresh Budayair, Scott Kugeleijn, Naren Saud, Abinash Bohara
Where to watch?
Fans can follow all the action live on Star Sports globally, Fancode in India, Dish Home Go OTT in Nepal, and Action Sports’ YouTube channel in Nepal.
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