Sudur Paschim Royals secured a commanding 72-run victory over table-toppers Janakpur Bolts in their last game. With a three-day break since that win, the Royals are well-positioned to finish in the top two with two matches remaining. Almost every batter in their lineup has made valuable contributions, and their bowlers have consistently chipped in with crucial wickets. The Royals will aim to maintain their winning momentum as the tournament approaches its business end. Notably, all four of their victories have come while batting first. Their only loss came while chasing against Chitwan Rhinos, where they fell short by 33 runs.
The Pokhara Avengers, on the other hand, are now playing for pride. Their campaign has been inconsistent, characterized by moments of brilliance and infamous collapses. They successfully chased a massive target of 171 without losing a wicket and managed to tie a game against Biratnagar Kings with a last-ball six. However, their batting lineup also suffered two dramatic collapses. Kushal Bhurtel has had a disappointing tournament with the bat, managing just one score above 30. He will be eager to finish the tournament on a positive note. Raymon Reifer has been the Avengers’ most consistent performer with the bat, while Bipin Khatri has led their bowling attack throughout the tournament.
Probable Playing XI (Pokhara Avengers)
Dinesh Kharel
Andries Gous (Wk)
Kushal Bhurtel (C)
Zen Malik
Dilip Nath
Michael Leask
Narayan Joshi
Raymon Reifer
Bipin Khatri
Akash Chand
Sagar Dhakal
Probable Playing XI of Sudurpaschim Royals
Binod Bhandari (WK)
Saif Zaib
Brandon McMullen
Dipendra Singh Airee (c)
Ishan Pandey
Dilpreet Bajwa
Md Aarif Sheikh
Naresh Budayair /Basant Khatri
Abinash Bohara
Scott Kuggeleijn
Naren Saud
