Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Lumbini Lions secured the final playoff spot in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a convincing four-wicket victory over Janakpur Bolts on Friday.
The result simultaneously ended the playoff hopes of the Bolts, as well as the Pokhara Avengers and Chitwan Rhinos. A Janakpur win would have kept all three sides in contention for the remaining berth.
Sent in to bat first, Janakpur folded for 132 for six in a must-win fixture. Lumbini surpassed the target with five balls remaining.
Janakpur lost opener Maaz Sadaqat for just six runs in the opening over. No. 3 batter Anil Sah (7) followed shortly. Aasif Sheikh showed some resistance with 20, before Sangeeth Cooray steadied the innings with a 45-run knock off 38 balls. Shubh Kansakar (11) and Sanjya Krishnamurthi (14) contributed valuable runs before Mayan Yadav, who remained unbeaten on 27 off 23, helped push the total past 130.
Sher Malla and captain Rohit Paudel picked up two wickets each for Lumbini, while JJ Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann claimed one apiece.
Although Lumbini lost opener Sumit Maharjan for a duck, D’Arcy Short (30) and Captain Paudel (34) steadied the inning. Niroshan Dickwella and JJ Smit contributed 17 and 21, respectively. Although Lumbini’s lower order struggled, Dilip Nath (15) hit a towering six to propel Lumbini to the playoffs.
Lumbini, who finished eighth in the previous eight-team season, completed a remarkable turnaround to secure the final playoff place this year.
Sudurpashchim Royals, Kathmandu Gorkhas, and Biratnagar Kings have already qualified for the playoffs. Sudurpashchim have sealed a spot in the first Qualifier, while the second Qualifier berth will depend on the match between the Royals and Biratnagar Kings.
