Sudurpaschim Royals will face Janakpur Bolts in the qualifier 1, the second match of the day. When these two sides met in the league stage, the Royals dominated, securing a comprehensive 72-run victory. However, the Bolts now have the perfect opportunity to take revenge and stamp their authority on the tournament.
Sudurpaschim Royals have been exceptional throughout the competition. They have been tested only once, losing that match, but their approach has been clear: bat first, post a defendable total, and win the game. The Royals tend to struggle when chasing, particularly losing early wickets in clusters. This was evident when they failed to chase 165 against Chitwan Rhinos, losing five wickets in the first 10 overs, including the crucial dismissal of Dipendra Singh Airee. Similarly, in their last match, they faltered while chasing a modest target of 102 runs, losing three early wickets. Despite these setbacks, their confidence remains largely unshaken.
On the other hand, Janakpur Bolts have won five matches and lost two. One of their defeats was a heavy loss against Sudurpaschim Royals, where they were bowled out for a mere 51 while chasing 124. Their other loss came while chasing a big total of 180 runs. At one stage, the Bolts looked promising with Jimmy Neesham at the crease, as he smashed the tournament’s fastest fifty. However, once Neesham departed, the innings quickly unraveled.
A major setback for Janakpur Bolts is the injury to their skipper, Anil Kumar Sah, who has been ruled out of the match. While there has been no official confirmation yet, his absence could significantly impact the team’s balance and morale.
Probable Playing XI of Sudurpaschim Royals
Binod Bhandari (WK)
Saif Zaib
Brandon McMullen
Dipendra Singh Airee (c)
Ishan Pandey
Harmeet Singh
Md Aarif Sheikh
Naresh Budayair
Abinash Bohara
Scott Kuggeleijn
Naren Saud (subjected to fitness)
Janakpur Bolts (Probable Playing XIs)
Anil Kumar Sah/Akash Tripathi
Aasif Sheikh
Lahiru Milantha
Shubh Kansakar
James Neesham
Harsh Thaker
Muhammad Mohsin
Sher Malla
Hemant Dhami/Arniko Yadav
Lalit Rajbanshi
Kishore Mahato
