NPL: Sudurpaschim Royals beat Pokhara Avengers by six wickets in KirtipurNPL: कीर्तिपुरमा सुदूरपश्चिम रोयल्सले पोखरा एभेन्जर्सलाई छ विकेटले हरायो

Pokhara were sent in to bat after losing the toss. Arjun Gharti top-scored with an unbeaten 40 off 25 balls, adding 15 runs in the final over.

Captain Kushal Bhurtel made 21 off 17 balls and Shakib Al Hasan made 14.

Anil Kharel took three wickets for 23 runs in three overs for Sudurpaschim, while Hemant Dhami and captain Dipendra Singh Airee took one wicket each. Scott Kuggeleijn took a wicket but conceded 49 runs in his four overs.

Airee led the chase with a half-century off 36 balls and finished the match by hitting Bhurtel over the boundary. He and Ishan Pandey put on 74 runs for the fourth wicket, with Pandey making 37 off 31 balls.

Brandon McMullen added 22 off 12 balls, and Sherfane Rutherford finished unbeaten on eight.

A report in late October said Sudurpaschim had lost both previous NPL finals, to Janakpur Bolts and then to Lumbini Lions. Another report in late October said Pokhara Avengers had failed to progress beyond the league stage in earlier editions and were the only team yet to qualify for the playoffs.