In a thrilling conclusion to the latest round of matches in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), Karnali Yaks have clinched their spot in the playoffs, becoming the fourth team to do so. Unfortunately, Kathmandu Gurkhas have been eliminated from the competition, marking the end of their NPL journey.
The crucial turning point came in the last match of the ongoing NPL, where Sudurpaschim Royals needed to chase down a target of 102 runs set by Karnali Yaks within 13 overs for Kathmandu Gurkhas to make the playoffs. However, Sudurpaschim Royals fell short of this target, failing to score the necessary runs in the allotted overs. This allowed Karnali Yaks to secure their playoff berth based on a better run rate.
In the match, Sudurpaschim Royals lost three wickets in 12.2 overs and could only manage to score 72 runs, thus sealing Karnali’s progression to the playoffs. Despite the outcome of the match, Karnali Yaks were already guaranteed a spot in the playoff stage due to their superior run rate.
Looking ahead, Karnali Yaks have a chance to finish in the top two if they can defeat Sudurpaschim Royals by a margin of 12 runs or more. This would see them leapfrog Janakpur Bolts and secure a higher position as the playoff stage draws near.
The race to the playoffs is heating up, and Karnali Yaks are now in a prime position to challenge for a top-tier finish in the NPL.