KATHMANDU: The defending runners-up, Sudurpashchim Royals, continue to assert their dominance in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), held at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur.

After 19 matches, Sudurpashchim have become the first team to secure a playoff berth, remaining undefeated in their first two matches and winning five games in total, amassing 10 points to top the points table.

The Royals still have two matches remaining against Biratnagar Kings and Chitwan Rhinos, aiming to clinch a spot in the first qualifier.

Currently, Kathmandu Gorkhas occupy second place with 8 points from 6 matches, while Biratnagar Kings sit third with 8 points from 5 matches, keeping both teams in contention for the playoffs.

Chitwan Rhinos are fourth with 4 points from 4 games, also in the playoff race.

The standings are rounded out by Lumbini Lions (5 games, 4 points), Karnali Yaks (5 games, 1 win), Pokhara Avengers (4 games, 2 points), and Janakpur Bolts, who remain winless after 4 matches.

Five Different Match-Winners in Consecutive Wins

Sudurpashchim’s success has been a team effort rather than reliance on a single player or foreign recruit. Remarkably, five different players have earned the ‘Player of the Match’ award in their consecutive wins, including three Nepali and two foreign players.

• Harmit Singh starred in the Royals’ first win over Kathmandu, scoring 53 runs off 20 balls with 2 fours and 6 sixes and taking 2 crucial wickets.

• Jose Brown powered the second victory against Pokhara with 68 runs off 35 balls, helping Sudurpashchim secure an 18-run win.

• Captain Dipendra Singh Airee excelled in the third match against Karnali, scoring 39 runs and taking 4 wickets.

• Binod Bhandari starred in the fourth win over Lumbini with an unbeaten 69 runs.

• Ishan Pandey shone against defending champions Janakpur, scoring 56 runs for the fifth victory.

Sudurpashchim have also fielded the largest number of local players (9), including Airee, Bhandari, Deepak Bohara, Milan Bohara, Hemant Dhami, Tek Rawat, Naren Saud, Dipendra Thapa, and Hikmat Mahara.

Top Performers in Batting and Bowling

The Royals are leading in batting as well, with four players scoring half-centuries: Bhandari, Pandey, Jose Brown, and Harmit Singh.

Across the tournament, 17 players have reached fifty, including Pokhara’s Kushal Bhurtel and Sumit Burma, Adam Rossington, Jimmy Neesham, Biratnagar’s Lokesh Bam, Martin Guptill, Basir Ahmad, Janakpur’s Wayne Parnell, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Aasif Sheikh, Kathmandu Gorkhas’ Jon Simpson, Karnali’s Priyank Panchal, and Chitwan’s Ravi Bopara. Only Karnali’s Mark Watt has scored a century this season.

In bowling, Abhinash Bohara (Sudurpashchim) leads with 11 wickets, followed by Sandeep Lamichhane (Biratnagar) with 10 wickets. Milind Kumar (Kathmandu) and captain Karan KC also have 10 wickets each, while Harmit Singh has 9.

Highest Run-Scorers

• Ravi Bopara (Chitwan) – 204 runs

• Mark Watt (Karnali) – 184 runs

• Rohitkumar Paudel (Lumbini, captain) – 174 runs

• Priyank Panchal (Karnali) & Binod Bhandari (Sudurpashchim) – 165 runs each

Team Scoring Records

• Biratnagar Kings hold the tournament’s highest team total: 220 against Pokhara, marking the highest score in NPL history.

• Sudurpashchim follow with 193 runs against Pokhara.

• Chitwan Rhinos recorded the lowest score so far, 89 all out against Kathmandu, breaking Karnali’s previous low of 94 against Sudurpashchim.

The NPL 2025, organized by Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), runs until Mangsir 27 (Dec 13), featuring eight teams.

The champion team will earn Rs 1.1 crore in prize money.