Royals enter NPL final after defeating Bolts by 8 wickets

KATHMANDU: Sudurpaschim Royals secured their spot in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) finals with a commanding 8-wicket win over Janakpur Bolts in the first qualifier held on Wednesday. The Bolts, after this defeat, will face Karnali Yaks in the second qualifier on Thursday to vie for the remaining spot in the final. Karnali had earlier eliminated Chitwan Rhinos in the eliminator match on the same day.

Janakpur set a moderate goal of 140 runs, which the Royals easily chased down, finishing in 18.3 overs with only two wickets lost. With a strong 58 runs, Binod Bhandari put up an impressive display and remained undefeated. Following the dismissal of opener Saif Zaib, he and Brandon McMullen shared a 59-run partnership for the second wicket during his innings. After that, Bhandari teamed up with captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who helped lead the side to win with 20 not out. Saif Zaib scored 32 runs and Brandon McMullen added 25.

Janakpur’s bowlers struggled to contain the Royals’ batting lineup, with Lalit Rajbanshi and Kishore Mahato being the only wicket-takers. Despite Lalit’s consistent performance in prior matches, he conceded 37 runs in this game. The Bolts used six bowlers in total, but most were ineffective except for Kishore and Harsh Thaker, who managed to keep the runs somewhat in check.

After winning the toss earlier in the game, Janakpur chose to bat first, however, they were only able to score 139 runs in their 20 overs at a cost of nine wickets. Except for James Neesham, who made a spectacular 45 off 23 balls, their batting order was unable to pick up steam. 

Other notable contributions for Janakpur included 26 runs from Shubh Kansakar, who was run out, and 12 runs each from Lahiru Milantha and Harsh Thaker. Skipper Asif Sheikh and Arniko Yadav chipped in with 11 runs apiece, but their collective efforts were insufficient to set a competitive total.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who took three wickets and played with discipline, led Sudurpaschim's bowling unit. Scott Kuggeleijn grabbed one wicket to limit Janakpur's innings, while Saif Zaib added two to his total.

With this win, the Royals have solidified their position as strong contenders for the crown. The winner will face the Sudurpaschim Royals in Saturday's grand final, while the winner of Janakpur vs. Karnali's second qualifier on Thursday will be eliminated.

The Royals are favorites to win the title because of their clinical performance, which was characterized by a unified effort in both bowling and hitting. This creates the possibility of an interesting tournament finale.