Two crucial matches are scheduled for Friday, significantly impacting the race for playoff spots in the Nepal Premier League. In the first match, Karnali Yaks will face Lumbini Lions at 9 AM, while Biratnagar Kings will play Chitwan Rhinos in the afternoon at 1 PM. While Lumbini Lions and Biratnagar Kings have already been eliminated from playoff contention, Karnali Yaks and Chitwan Rhinos need to secure victories to ease their path to qualification.
Match 1: Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions
The first match will be a must-win for Karnali Yaks, who are currently placed 4th in the points table with three wins and two losses. They come into this match on the back of three consecutive victories against Chitwan Rhinos, Biratnagar Kings, and Pokhara Avengers. Lumbini Lions, on the other hand, are at 7th place with one win and five losses. They will look to spoil Karnali’s playoff aspirations, but Karnali will aim to win and boost their Net Run Rate for easier qualification.
Lumbini Lionsbiggest strength lies in their batting, led by captain Rohit Paudel, the tournament’s top scorer with 269 runs from six innings. The middle order, including Saad Bin Zafar, Tom Moores, and Bibek Yadav, has supported him well, though the top order has struggled throughout the tournament. It is expected that Lumbini will stick to their opening pair of Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Arjun Saud, with Unmukt Chand coming in at number three.
Karnali Yaks, a solid bowling unit, will look to overcome their concerns in batting. Despite their early losses in the tournament, they have bounced back with impressive performances. It will be a test of Karnali’s strong bowling attack against Lumbini’s batting firepower.
Lumbini Lions Probable Playing XI: Dev Khanal, Babar Hayat, Chadwick Walton, Gulshan Jha, William Bosisto, Arjun Gharti, Zeeshan Maqsood, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Unish Thakuri, Bipin Sharma
Karnali Yaks Probable Playing XI: Ashutosh Ghiraiya, Arjun Saud, Unmukt Chand, Rohit Paudel, Tom Moores, Saad Bin Zafar, Dinesh Adhikari, Bibek Yadav, Surya Tamang, Ramon Simmonds, Tilak Bhandari
Match 2: Chitwan Rhinos vs Biratnagar Kings
The second match will see Chitwan Rhinos face off against Biratnagar Kings. Chitwan, in 3rd place with three wins and two losses, needs to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Biratnagar Kings, at the bottom of the table with just one win and four losses, are already out of the race but will aim to spoil Chitwan’s qualification.
Chitwan Rhinos boasts one of the best bowling lineups in the tournament, although their batting has been inconsistent. Much of their success has come from Ravi Bopara, who has been the backbone of their batting. Basil Hameed, the UAE all-rounder, has been brought in to strengthen the batting lineup and may replace Hassan Eisakhil, who is doubtful due to a back injury.
Biratnagar Kings have struggled in all areas, with Sandeep Lamichhane’s poor form with the ball and captaincy being a significant setback. Despite their tough position, Biratnagar will look to end their campaign on a high note and try to spoil other teams’ playoff spots.
Chitwan Rhinos Probable Playing XI: Santosh Karki, Bipin Rawal, Kushal Malla, Ravi Bopara, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Basil Hameed, Amar Singh Routela, Ranjit Kumar, Sohail Tanveer, Rijan Dhakal, Nar Sarki
Biratnagar Kings Probable Playing XI: Martin Guptill, Lokesh Bam, Scott Edwards, Naren Bhatta, Nicholas Kirton, Basir Ahamad, Chris Sole, Dipak Bohara, Pratish GC, Chris Sole, Sandeep Lamichhane
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all the live action on Star Sports globally, Fancode in India, Dish Home Go OTT in Nepal, and Action Sports’ YouTube channel in Nepal.
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