Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Sudurpashchim Royals sealed their place in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) final after crushing Biratnagar Royals by 77 runs in Qualifier 1 at the TU International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Biratnagar, who entered the match on a high after thrashing Sudurpashchim by six wickets in their final group-stage fixture on Saturday, failed to replicate their form when it mattered most. Chasing a modest 156-run target, their famed top order offered little resistance, and their batting lineup collapsed for just 78 runs in 14.1 overs.
Biragnagar began the chase disastrously as opener Sam Heazlett fell for a golden duck off Scott Kuggeleijn. The misery deepened when Martin Guptill ran himself out in the same over. Naren Bhatta also departed without scoring, putting Biratnagar under pressure early on. Faf du Plessis scored 36 off 29 balls as he watched wickets tumble at the other end. Though Basir Ahamad (12 off 18) offered some support, Lokesh Bam (5) and Narayan Joshi (1) fell in quick succession before Hemant Dhami delivered the knockout blow by dismissing the in-form du Plessis. Kuggeleijn returned later to remove Marchant de Lange (15 off 11), and Abinash Bohora removed Biratnagar Captain Sandeep Lamichhane (3) to end Biratnagar’s misery.
Kuggeleijn, Harmeet Singh and Abinash Bohara each for Sudurpashchim, while Hemanth Dhami and Dipendra Singh Airee chipped in with a wicket.
Earlier, Sudurpashchim posted 155 runs for the loss of seven wickets, thanks largely to a composed 63 off 52 balls from the veteran Binod Bhandari. Sheldon Jackson and Aarif Sheikh chipped in with 20 runs each, while Harmeet Singh (14), Ishan Pandey (13), and Mukhtar Ahmed (10) made useful contributions. However, no other batter reached double digits as Biratnagar’s bowlers kept the total within reach.
de Lange and Pratish GC took two wickets each for Biratnagar, while Surya Tamang and Sam Heazlett had a wicket each to their names.
Biratnagar will now get a second chance to enter the final through Qualifier 2, where they will meet the winner of the Eliminator between Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions on Thursday.
