The inaugural Nepal Premier League final is set to feature Janakpur Bolts against Sudurpaschim Royals on Saturday at 12 PM NPT at TU International Cricket Ground. Dubbed the El-Classico of NPL, this will be the third meeting between these teams, with Sudurpaschim Royals winning both previous encounters, including an eight-wicket victory in the first qualifier.
Janakpur Bolts earned their spot in the final with a narrow two-wicket win over Karnali Yaks in the second qualifier. Both teams were the top performers in the league stage, with Sudurpaschim Royals finishing first with 12 points and Janakpur Bolts securing second place with 10 points.
Sudurpaschim Royals: Favorites to Win
Sudurpaschim Royals enter the final as favourites due to their balanced squad. Their batting lineup features consistent contributions from both domestic and overseas players, while their bowling attack has been equally instrumental. Dipendra Singh Airee, the team’s captain and a livewire on the field, leads by example. He is the Royals’ highest run-scorer with 218 runs in eight innings.
Scott Kuggeleijn has been exceptional with the ball, sharing the tournament’s leading wicket-taker spot with 16 wickets at an economy of 6.46. The addition of Harmeet Singh has strengthened their bowling options, making the Royals a formidable unit. They are expected to retain the same XI from their first qualifier against Janakpur Bolts.
Sudurpaschim Royals Probable Playing XI: Binod Bhandari, Saif Zaib, Brendon McMullen, Harmeet Singh, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey, Naresh Budayair, Scott Kuggeleijn, Naren Saud, Abinash Bohara
Janakpur Bolts: Banking on James Neesham
Janakpur Bolts have relied heavily on James Neesham in their last three matches. Neesham, the tournament’s leading six-hitter with 23 maximums, has scored 243 runs, of which 194 came from boundaries. With Anil Sah ruled out, Janakpur has experimented with their opening pair in the playoffs, using Lahiru Milantha and Subh Kansakar alongside skipper Asif Sheikh.
On the bowling front, Lalit Rajbanshi has been a standout performer, taking 16 wickets in nine innings at an economy of 5.50. His ability to deliver in all phases of the game makes him a key player for the Bolts. To strengthen their bowling, Janakpur might consider including Hemant Dhami in the XI for the final in place of Akash Tripathi.
Janakpur Bolts Probable Playing XI: Asif Sheikh, Lahiru Milantha, Subh Kansakar, Harsh Thaker, James Neesham, Mayan Yadav, Mohammad Mohsin, Sher Malla, Kishore Mahato, Hemant Dhami, Lalit Rajbanshi
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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