As the Nepal Premier League reaches its final stages, three spots in the top four remain up for grabs. Janakpur Bolts are the only team to have confirmed their place in the playoffs, while the remaining teams fight for the remaining spots. On Sunday morning, Kathmandu Gurkhas will face Biratnagar Kings in a must-win encounter at 9 AM, followed by Sudurpaschim Royals taking on Pokhara Avengers at 1 PM.
Match 1: Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Pokhara Avengers
With Pokhara Avengers and Biratnagar Kings already eliminated, both teams can play spoiler and impact the playoff hopes of their opponents. Kathmandu Gurkhas, coming off a strong six-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers, will look to push their way into the playoffs.
To qualify, the Gurkhas must win by a margin of at least 70 runs, scoring 170 runs batting first, and hope that Karnali Yaks lose by 39 runs or more in their final match on Monday against Sudurpaschim Royals. Alternatively, if they manage to win by 142 runs, scoring at least 200 runs, they could surpass Chitwan Rhinos Net Run Rate. However, the latter scenario appears highly unlikely.
Kathmandu Gurkhas chances seem slim, especially with the team’s batting struggles throughout the season. Batting first against Biratnagar Kings, led by pace duo Pratish GC and Chris Sole, will not be an easy task. Biratnagar, fresh off a win against Chitwan Rhinos, will be full of confidence and looking to end their campaign on a high. Biratnagar may give some of their bench players a chance to play, while Kathmandu Gurkhas are unlikely to make many changes to their lineup.
Kathmandu Gurkhas Probable Playing XI: Michael Levitt, Stephen Eskinazi, Bhim Sharki, Gerhard Erasmus, Karan KC, Rashid Khan, Raju Rijal, Nathan Sowter, Pratik Shrestha, Shahab Alam, Dipesh Kandel
Biratnagar Kings Probable Playing XI: Martin Guptill, Lokesh Bam, Scott Edwards, Sujan Thapaliya, Rajesh Pulami Magar, Basir Ahamad, Sandeep Lamichhane, Pratish GC, Chris Sole, Kamal Khatri
Match 2: Sudurpaschim Royals vs Pokhara Avengers
Sudurpaschim Royals, after a 72-run victory over Janakpur Bolts, will aim to win their remaining match to secure a top-two finish. The Royals, who have relied heavily on their top-order batters, Saif Zaib, Brendon McMullen, and captain Dipendra Singh Airee, will look to address their batting dependency before heading into the knockout stages. Their final league-stage match against Pokhara Avengers, who are already knocked out, provides an opportunity to fix this issue.
Pokhara Avengers have had a tough season, struggling both with the bat and ball. Their captain, Kushal Bhurtel, has had an underwhelming campaign, with just one score over 30. He will be eager to end the season on a positive note by contributing with the bat in their final match.
Sudurpaschim Royals Probable Playing XI: Saif Zaib, Binod Bhandari, Harmeet Singh, Brendon McMullen, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey, Aarif Sheikh, Scott Kuggeleijn, Naresh Budayair, Naren Saud, Abinash Bohara
Pokhara Avengers Probable Playing XI: Dinesh Kharel, Andries Gous, Kushal Bhurtel, Dilip Nath, Aakarshit Gomel, Raymon Reifer, Michael Leask, Narayan Joshi, Bipin Khatri, Sagar Dhakal, Aakash Chand
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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