The first edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is set for an exciting finale as the Sudurpaschim Royals take on the Janakpur Bolts at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.
The Sudurpaschim Royals have been in exceptional form, winning four of their last five matches. Notably, they secured a convincing 8-wicket victory over the Janakpur Bolts in Qualifier 1 on December 18, 2024, chasing down the target with nine balls to spare.
Meanwhile, the Janakpur Bolts have had a mixed run, with two wins in their last five outings. After the loss to the Royals in Qualifier 1, they bounced back in Qualifier 2 with a narrow 2-wicket win against Karnali, clinching the game with six balls remaining.
Head-to-Head:
The Royals have dominated recent clashes between the two teams, winning both encounters in this edition:
December 11: Royals won by 72 runs.
December 18: Royals won by 8 wickets.
Key Players to Watch:
Sudur Paschim Royals:
Top Batter: Dipendra Singh Airee, known for his consistent run-scoring ability. He is the leading run-scorer with 218 runs in the tournament so far.
Leading Bowler: Scott Kuggeleijn, who has been instrumental with crucial wickets. He has grabbed 16 wickets with an economy of 6.46.
Janakpur Bolts:
Star All-Rounder: James Neesham is by far the pillar of Bolts, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. He has managed 243 runs and 6 wickets.
Key Bowler: Lalit Rajbanshi has led the bowling attack with impressive performances, taking 16 wickets with an economy of 5.50.
Match Details:
Date: December 21, 2024
Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Start Time: 6:30 AM GMT (12:15 PM NST)
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