Tomorrow’s first match will feature the Sudurpaschim Royals, led by local hometown hero Dipendra Singh Airee, taking on the Biratnagar Kings. The Kings will be eager to bounce back after an 8-wicket defeat to the Janakpur Bolts in their opening game. Martin Guptill showed promising form in that match, scoring a composed 55 off 43 balls. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse, as the Kings crumbled from 96-3 to being bowled out for 127. One area where Sandeep Lamichhane and the other bowlers will need to improve is their discipline, as the team conceded a costly 22 extras in the opening game.
For the Royals, this will be their first match of the competition, and they’ll be keen to start their campaign on a winning note. Early signs suggest that batting at the TU ground hasn’t been easy, which will provide a stern test for their strong lineup. Tomorrow’s game promises to be an exciting contest between bat and ball.
If the bowlers of the Sudurpaschim Royals can back up their impressive batting unit, they will be a tough team to beat in the competition, particularly with the strength and resilience of their middle-order batters.
Probable Playing XI of Biratnagar Kings
Lokesh Bam (WK)
Martin Guptill
Aqib Ilyas
Nicholas Kirton
Basir Ahamad
Rajesh Pulami
Pratish GC
Sandeep Lamichhane (c)
Chris Sole
Jitendra Mukhiya
Anil Kharel
Probable Playing XI of Sudurpaschim Royals
Ishan Pandey
Naresh Budhayer/Amit Shrestha
Brandon McMullen
Dipendra Singh Airee (c)
Binod Bhandari (WK)
Rohan Mustafa
Md Aarif Sheikh
Saif Zaib
Abinash Bohara
Scott Kuggeleijn
Bhoj Raj Bhatta
