Cricket Kitchen

NPL Cricket: Two Crucial Matches Scheduled Today as Teams Battle for Playoff Spots

November 13, 2026

Kathmandu – Two matches are scheduled in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) today, with teams battling for crucial points in the race for playoff qualification.

In the first match, Kathmandu Gorkhas will face Sudurpaschim Royals. Both teams have been in impressive form this season and are currently placed second and third in the points table with eight points each. The winner will strengthen its position in the race for the top four.

Kathmandu Gorkhas, after losing their opening match, have made an excellent comeback and currently sit second in the standings. With four wins and one defeat from five matches, Kathmandu have accumulated eight points and will be looking to secure their place in the Qualifiers.

Kathmandu began their campaign with an eight-wicket defeat against Janakpur Bolts. However, they bounced back by defeating Karnali Yaks by four wickets, Biratnagar Kings by nine wickets, Lumbini Lions by 36 runs, and Chitwan Rhinos by 10 runs in their most recent match.

Although Kathmandu have the same number of points as third-placed Sudurpaschim, they have played one fewer match and hold a strong net run rate of 1.168. Another victory would put them in a strong position to secure a top-two finish.

Meanwhile, two-time runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals have experienced a mixed campaign this season. They began with a seven-wicket defeat against Lumbini but bounced back with a six-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers. They then suffered a 35-run defeat against Biratnagar Kings.

Sudurpaschim subsequently defeated Chitwan Rhinos by five wickets, Karnali Yaks by 39 runs, and Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs in their latest match.

With four wins and two defeats from six matches, Sudurpaschim have eight points. Another victory would significantly strengthen their chances of securing a playoff berth.

The match between Kathmandu Gorkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals will begin at 12:30 PM.

Janakpur Bolts Take on Chitwan Rhinos in Second Match
In the second match of the day, Janakpur Bolts will face Chitwan Rhinos. The contest between the two mid-table teams will be crucial in determining the playoff standings.

Chitwan, with two matches remaining, have no option but to win their remaining games. Janakpur, meanwhile, are playing their final league match and need a victory while also depending on results involving other teams.

Chitwan, led by Sikandar Raza, have struggled to maintain consistency throughout the tournament. They started with an eight-run victory over Biratnagar Kings before sharing points with Lumbini Lions after rain interrupted the match.

They then lost to Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets but recovered with a 30-run victory over Pokhara Avengers. However, they suffered a 10-run defeat against Kathmandu Gorkhas in their most recent match.

Chitwan have collected five points from five matches and must win their remaining two games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Janakpur Bolts began their campaign with a 19-run defeat against Karnali Yaks. They bounced back by defeating Kathmandu Gorkhas by eight wickets and Pokhara Avengers by nine runs in their next two matches.

However, Janakpur have failed to collect any points in their last three matches.

A narrow two-run defeat against Biratnagar Kings in a match that went down to the final ball proved costly for Janakpur. They subsequently lost to Lumbini Lions by 16 runs and Sudurpaschim Royals by 27 runs, leaving their playoff hopes in a difficult position.

Janakpur have accumulated just four points from five matches. A victory in their final league match would take them to six points. However, with other mid-table teams still having two matches remaining, a win alone may not be enough to secure their place in the playoffs.

The match between Janakpur Bolts and Chitwan Rhinos is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s final match, defending champions Lumbini Lions defeated Karnali Yaks by four wickets to strengthen their position and secure a place in the playoffs.