NPL final: Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts facing for title

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 final is set to take place today at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Sudurpaschim Royals and Janakpur Bolts will battle for the championship title in what promises to be an exciting showdown.

The final match is scheduled to begin at 12:15 PM.

Sudurpaschim Royals secured their spot in the final by defeating Janakpur Bolts by eight wickets in the first qualifier.

On the other hand, Janakpur Bolts earned their place by narrowly defeating Karnali Yaks by two wickets in the second qualifier.

Both teams were the top two performers in the league stage and have now emerged as the final contenders. In their two previous encounters during the league and playoffs, Sudurpaschim triumphed both times. Will Sudurpaschim maintain their dominance, or will Janakpur exact revenge? The answer lies in today’s final.

Sudurpaschim displayed consistent form throughout the league, winning six of their seven matches and losing only to Chitwan Rhinos.

Janakpur, on the other hand, faced defeats against both Chitwan and Sudurpaschim but still managed to secure second place with five wins out of seven matches.

Sudurpaschim extended their winning momentum in the playoffs by clinching a direct final berth through Qualifier One.

Janakpur, however, made full use of their second chance, defeating Karnali Yaks in a low-scoring thriller.

Karnali had earlier eliminated Chitwan Rhinos to reach Qualifier Two but fell short against Janakpur.

Chasing a target of 119 runs, Janakpur achieved victory in 19 overs with eight wickets down.

James Neesham was the star for Janakpur, scoring a crucial 45 runs with an aggressive knock. Karnali’s young spinner Bipin Prasad Sharma impressed with three wickets.

As Sudurpaschim and Janakpur lock horns for the third time this season, fans can expect a thrilling finale to crown the NPL champion.