Kathmandu. Sudurpaschim Royals have entered the playoffs of the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). Sudurpaschim defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by 7 runs to secure a place in the playoffs.

Sudurpaschim is the second team to secure a place in the playoffs in the ongoing tournament. Earlier, Lumbini Lions had made it to the playoffs. Chasing the target of 126 runs set by Sudurpaschim in today’s match, Kathmandu could only score 118 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Rashid Khan scored 35 not out, Dushan Hemantha scored 21 runs, Sam Hazlett scored 11 runs and Santosh Yadav scored 10 runs for Kathmandu.

In bowling, Anil Kharel took two wickets while Scott Kuglin, Fabian Allen and Hemant Dhami took one wicket each for Far-West. Earlier, Sudurpaschim scored 125 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs after losing the toss at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee scored a half-century for Far-West. He scored 60 runs in 55 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. This is Captain Airee’s first half-century in the ongoing NPL.

Similarly, Taridu Ratnayake scored 26 not out and Aarif Sheikh scored 16 runs against Kathmandu. For Kathmandu, Jahandad Khan took 3 wickets and Santosh Yadav took 2 wickets. The other match will be played between Chitwan Rhinos and Janakpur Bolts.