Final three games to decide Top 4 teams of NPL

Kathmandu, Dec. 15: After 13 match days and 25 games, three games across two match days are left in the league stage of the inaugural Nepal Premier League underway at the Kirtipur-based TU International Cricket Ground. And the remaining three fixtures will decide on the Top 4 teams and their positions.

The Playoffs that start on December 18 will see a faceoff between the first two (Qualifier 1) and the last two teams (Eliminator) among the Top 4. The winner from the Top 2 will progress to the final while the loser will have a chance for the final by defeating the winner from the Eliminator in Qualifier 2.

After the conclusion of Pokhara Avengers vs Kathmandu Gurkhas and Janakpur Bolts vs Chitwan Rhinos on Match Day 13, Saturday, Chitwan and Kathmandu increased their chances for the Playoffs while ending the hopes for Biratnagar Kings.

Biratnagar would have had a chance if Chitwan lost to table-topper Janakpur. However, the Rhinos emerged victorious in their last and seventh league game of the NPL defeating Janakpur by 32 runs.

Earlier, Kathmandu defeated Pokhara by 6 wickets and 35 balls remaining while chasing 139 runs. 

Invited to bat first in difficult conditions of the morning, opener Dinesh Kharel (38 off 25) and in-at-six Raymon Reifer (41* off 30), who helped defeat Biratnagar a day prior in NPL’s first Super Over, were the only ones to put up a proper fight for Pokhara alongside in-at-four Dilip Nath (27 off 24). 

The dangerous duo of Pokhara – Andries Gous and Kushal Bhurtel – could not reach the double figures; moreover, Gous, the first centurion of NPL, returned for a duck.

Kathmandu’s skipper Karan KC and Rashid Khan bagged three wickets each while Gerhard Erasmus and Michael Levitt took one each.

Erasmus was the one who finished the chase for Kathmandu with a six to Dinesh Kharel when he came to ball his first spell in the 15th over. Kharel was the eighth bowler used by Pokhara as Aakash Chand, Aakarshit Gomel and Michael Leask were allowed only one each. 

Sagar Dhakal was the only one to complete his four-over spell but went wicketless; Bipin Khatri, who bowled three overs, had three wickets to his name. 

Khatri was the one who broke Kathmandu’s first-wicket partnership of 58 runs between Stephen Eskinazi and Levitt (32 off 18). Eskinazi went on to register a half-century before departing in the 13th over as the third wicket for 60 off 34 (10 fours). By then, Bhim Sharki had departed contributing 22 off 20.

Erasmus went on to take Kathmandu to their third win in six matches with a knock of 25 off 10 (1 four, 3 sixes). Kathmandu can challenge Chitwan and Karnali for a spot in the Top 4 if they defeat Biratnagar in the duo’s final league-stage match on Sunday. 

Chitwan and Karnali are positioned third and fourth respectively with eight points each. Kathmandu has six points and is placed 5th. Karnali also has a game remaining which will be against Sudurpaschim on Monday. 

Sudurpaschim, on the other hand, has the chance to top the table by the end of the league as they have two games in hand. Before Karnali on December 16, Sudur faces Pokhara on December 15. They are currently positioned 2nd with eight points from five games.

Current topper, Janakpur, concluded their league games after their second NPL loss to Chitwan in the weekend.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first in a must-win game, Chitwan’s middle order saw a 100+ partnership between skipper Kushal Malla and experienced Ravi Bopara before the team posted 180/5 in 20 overs. 

Malla and Bopara also crossed the 200-run mark in the NPL after their fruitful inning against Janakpur.

Their partnership began after Hassan Eisakhil’s (28 off 19) departure as the third wicket in 7.3 overs leaving Chitwan at 55. When Malla departed after scoring 72 off 41 (3 fours, 7 sixes) as the fourth wicket in 18.4 overs, Chitwan was at 168. Malla got a lifeline when he was dropped at 53 by Aasif Sheikh.

Bopara fell short of six runs for his half-century before getting caught in the spell of Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi in 19.2 overs. 

Rajbanshi shone the brightest with the ball on Saturday. He bowled two maidens and took the first wicket for Janakpur in the powerplay. In the remaining 12 deliveries, including bowling the final over, he only conceded 11 runs and got Bopara out as his second victim of the game and 13 overall. Rajbanshi is the leading wicket-taker of NPL besting Rijan Dhakal of Chitwan in economy.

However, Rajbanshi’s effort with the ball could not be capitalised by Janakpur while chasing a defendable target for Chitwan. 

Rijan Dhakal joined Rajbanshi in the list of leading wicket-takers after a two-wicket haul against Janakpur. He was the one who took care of Janakpur’s skipper Anil Kumar Sah (8 off 6). The opening pair for the national team could not help Janakpur against Chitwan as Aasif could also only contribute 23 off 26.

James Neesham, was the highest scorer for Janakpur in the chase, as he added 65 off 24 (5 fours, 6 sixes) before departing in 14.4 overs as the eighth wicket. Janakpur was then at 138 requiring 43 off 32 deliveries.