Sudurpashchim storm Into NPL final with commanding win over Biratnagar

Sudurpashchim Royals advanced to the Nepal Premier League (NPL) final for the second consecutive time after delivering a dominant performance against Biratnagar Kings in the first qualifier on Tuesday. 

The victory not only secured their place in the title match but also avenged their loss to Biratnagar in the final league game, where they were thrashed by Biratnagar . 

Sudurpashchim will now play the winner of second qualifier for the championship. Despite the defeat, Biratnagar still have another chance to reach the final as they face the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator between Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions in Thursday’s second qualifier. 

Sudurpashchim completely dictated the game with sharp bowling and disciplined fielding, dismantling Biratnagar’s chase of 156. Biratnagar were bowled out for just 78 runs in 14.1 overs. 

Apart from opener Faf du Plessis, who scored 36 off 29 balls, no other batter played a meaningful innings. Merchant de Lange added 15, and Basir Ahmad chipped in with 12, while the rest failed to reach double figures. 

Sudurpashchim began their assault from the very first over. Scott Kuggeleijn struck with the first ball, removing Sam Heazlett through a catch by captain Dipendra Singh Airee. Martin Guptill was run out later in the same over. 

In the second over, Harmeet Singh dismissed Naren Bhatta, leaving Biratnagar reeling at 3 for 3. Du Plessis and Basir attempted a recovery with a 39-run stand for the fourth wicket, but once Basir fell to Airee’s return catch, the collapse continued. 

Lokesh Bam managed only five before falling to Avinash Bohara, and Narayan Joshi was bowled by Harmeet. The innings fell apart entirely when du Plessis and Pratish GC were removed in the same over by Hemant Dhami and a run-out respectively. 

De Lange’s 15 provided brief resistance before he departed, and captain Sandeep Lamichhane was the final wicket to fall. Sudurpashchim’s bowlers shined collectively, with Kuggeleijn, Harmeet and Bohara claiming two wickets each, while Airee and Dhami picked up one apiece. Two Biratnagar players were run out. 

Earlier, Sudurpashchim posted 155 for 7 after being sent in to bat at the TU International Cricket Ground. Opener Binod Bhandari anchored the innings with a well-crafted 63 off 52 balls, including three fours and two sixes. This was his second half-century of the season, helping him rise to second on the list of top run-scorers with 264 runs from eight matches. 

NPL debutant Sheldon Jackson supported with 20, while Arif Sheikh also contributed 20 runs. Fellow debutant Mukhtar Ahmed opened with Binod but fell for 10. 

Partnerships of 40 for the second wicket with Jackson and 31 for the third with Ishan Pandey helped steady the innings. Pandey was dismissed for 13 following an excellent boundary-line catch by Naren Bhatta, while captain Airee was run out for 3. Harmeet Singh added 14 off 11 balls before falling. 

Binod held the innings together until the final ball of the 19th over before being dismissed, after which Aarif also fell in the last over. 

For Biratnagar, Merchant de Lange and Pratish GC picked up two wickets each, while Surya Tamang and Sam Heazlett claimed one apiece.