Sudurpaschim Royals qualified for the playoff stage of the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament after they defeated already-eliminated Pokhara Avengers by five runs in a last-over thriller at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Sunday.

Pokhara were looking to end their campaign on a high and needed only seven runs off the final over to chase down 154, with three wickets still remaining.

But New Zealand all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn delivered a match-turning performance, taking two wickets and conceding just one run in the final over to restrict Pokhara to 148. Kuggeleijn’s sensational spell of 5-18 in 3.4 overs, including the dismissal of Kiran Thagunna (32 off 28), proved decisive.

Thagunna had staged a mid-innings recovery with Raymon Reifer (33 off 28) with a 70-run stand for the sixth wicket after the team faltered early.

Harmeet Singh also impressed, claiming 3-26, with his key scalp accounting for the wicket of Reifer at a critical juncture.

Saif Zaib’s one over he bowled also proved special as he earlier ended the resistance of Andries Gous (36 off 21), who had added a 37-run stand with Dinesh Kharel (15 off 12) to give Pokhara a good start.

Skipper Kushal Bhurtel (0), Dilip Nath (1), Zen Malik (10), Michael Leask (5), Sudip Aryal (0) and Bipin Khatri (0) could not make any significant contributions.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim posted a competitive 153-7 from their 20 overs after being invited to bat first, with Aarif Sheikh’s 42 not out off 38 balls anchoring the innings.

Brandon McMullen provided the second highest score for Sudurpaschim with 23 off 16, while contributions from captain Dipendra Singh Airee (20 off 16), Binod Bhandari (14 off 16) and Harmeet Singh (13 off 10) also bolstered the total.

Bhurtel took two wickets for Pokhara, while Reifer, Sagar Dhakal and Leask pocketed one apiece.

The outcome moved Sudurpaschim above Janakpur Bolts to the summit of the eight-team standings on net run rate, tied with Janakpur on 10 points. The win also solidified Sudurpaschim’s chances of direct entry into the Qualifier 1, with one league stage match remaining against Karnali Yaks.

Janakpur were the first team to progress into the playoffs. They have played all their seven fixtures.

The top four teams at the end of the single round-robin league progress into the playoffs, where the league winners and runners-up clash in the Qualifier 1 for a direct final berth. The third and fourth placed teams battle in the Eliminator. The losing side of the Qualifier 1 vie against the winners of Eliminator in the Qualifier 2 for the second spot in the title match.

Kathmandu keep playoff hopes alive

Kathmandu Gurkhas also kept alive their hopes of progressing into the playoffs with a one-wicket victory against Biratnagar Kings but they will have to wait anxiously until Monday to find out their fate.

The win took Kathmandu level on eight points with third-placed Chitwan Rhinos and fourth-placed Karnali but the Gurkhas stay fifth due to inferior net run rate. To qualify for the playoff, the Gurkhas will now have to hope Karnali suffer a heavy defeat to Sudurpaschim in Monday’s match.

Biratnagar were already out of the top four race.

Kathmandu knew they had to pull off a victory if they were to keep afloat their slim hopes of advancing into the next round.

Kathmandu fielded first and restricted Biratnagar to a paltry 117 but had to rely on late cameo from Shankar Rana (16 not out 20) and Dipesh Kandel (11 off 5) to complete the victory.

Gerhard Erasmus led Kathmandu’s bowling effort with an impressive figures of 3-17, while Kandel supported him with 2-16. Shahab Alam, Karan KC and Dan Douthwaite also took a wicket each.

Biratnagar felt the pressure of Kathmandu’s disciplined bowling attack from the onset and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Rajesh Pulami top scored for Biratnagar with 25 off 21, while Dipak Bohara’s 20 off 24 was the second highest score of their innings.

Kathmandu began their chase poorly, stumbling to 39-5 inside the powerplay, as they lost Stephen Eskinazi (1), Michael Levitt (10), Erasmus (12), Bhim Sharki (1) and Douthwaite (1), with skipper Sandeep Lamichhane (3-19) striking twice.

Pratik Shrestha led the recovery with 39 runs off 34 balls, supported by Rashid Khan (14 off 15) to take Kathmandu 90-7.

Kharel (2-28) gave Kathmandu chills with two consecutive wickets in the 14th over, first ending Shrestha’s resistance and then bowling Karan KC out for a golden duck.

But Rana and Kandel kept their calm to guide Kathmandu to 120-9.

Basir Ahamad and Chris Sole also took two wickets each for Biratnagar.