NPL Final: Sudurpaschim Royals opt to bat first against Lumbini Lions
Royals captain Dipendra Singh Airee announced the decision after winning the toss. Both finalists have made one change each to their foreign player line-ups for the title clash.
KATHMANDU: Sudurpaschim Royals have won the toss and elected to bat first against Lumbini Lions in the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Saturday.
Royals captain Dipendra Singh Airee announced the decision after winning the toss. Both finalists have made one change each to their foreign player line-ups for the title clash.
Sudurpaschim have brought in Punit Mehra in place of Mukhtar Ahmed. Mehra had featured in two league-stage matches. Among Nepali players, Deepak Bohara replaces Milan Bohara in the Royals’ playing XI.
Lumbini, meanwhile, have included Movin Subasingha in place of JJ Smit.
A win for Lumbini would mark their sixth consecutive victory, equalling Sudurpaschim’s record of six straight wins achieved at the start of NPL Season 2.
Sudurpaschim began the season with six wins before suffering their first defeat against Biratnagar Kings in the seventh match.
They later reached the final by defeating Biratnagar in Qualifier 1.
Lumbini booked their playoff spot by winning their final three league-stage matches.
They then defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Eliminator and Biratnagar Kings in Qualifier 2 to secure a place in the final.
In the league stage, Sudurpaschim defeated Lumbini by seven wickets.
The Royals also beat the Lions by 45 runs in last year’s edition. In the previous season, Lumbini finished at the bottom of the table, losing six of their seven matches.
Sudurpaschim Royals:
Lumbini Lions:
