Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Sudurpaschim Royals secured its playoff berth with a five-run victory over the already eliminated Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Sunday.
Batting first, Sudurpaschim scored 153 runs for the loss of seven wickets. In reply, Pokhara Avengers was out for 148 runs as Scott Kuggleleijn claimed five wickets for Sudurpaschim.
Sudurpaschim made a slow start with the bat as it lost openers Saif Zaib and Biod Bhandari for 9 and 14, respectively. Brandon McMullen and Harmeet Singh soon followed scoring 23 and 13, respectively. Aaarif Sheikh scored an unbeaten 42 off 38 balls to take Sudurpaschim past 150 runs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Ishan Pandey contributed 20 and 10, respectively.
Kushal Bhurtel took two wickets for Pokhara, while Raymon Reifer, Sagar Dhakal and Michael Leask claimed a wicket each.
Pokhara Avengers started well in the chase, adding 37 runs in just 3.1 overs for the first wicket. However, after Dinesh Kharel fell for 15, it lost Captain Kushal Bhurtel for a duck and Dilip Nath for 1 in quick succession. Andries Gous scored a 21-ball 36 for Pokkhara, while Raymon Reifer and Kiran Thagunna contributed 33 and 32, respectively. Other Pokhara batters failed to reach double digits.
Kuggeleinj took five wickets giving 18 runs in 3.4 overs to script Sudurpaschim’s win. Harmeet Singh claimed three wickets, while Saif Zaib had a wicket to his name.
Sudurpaschim takes on Karnali Yaks in the last league-round match of the NPL on Monday. Only a big Karnali Yaks victory will deny Sudurpaschim a spot in the Qualifier. Karnali, on the other hand, needs to avoid a heavy defeat in its last league-round match to secure its playoff berth.
Teams finishing in the first and second position will qualify for the Qualifier, while those placed third and fourth will play in the Eliminator. The winner of the Qualifier will enter the final, while the winner of the Eliminator will meet the defeated side of the Qualifier in Qualifier 2. The winner of Qualifier 2 will also progress to the final.
Lumbini Lions, Biratnagar Kings and Pokhara Avengers have been eliminated from the playoff race, while Kathmandu Gurkhas has a slim chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
