NPL Playoff Race Wide Open with Ten League Games Left

The race for the Nepal Premier League playoffs is wide open, with ten league games still to play and no team yet sure of a place in the top four.

After 18 of the 28 league games, defending champions Lumbini Lions lead the table with seven points from five games, with three wins and one match with no result. Kathmandu Gorkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals are next on six points each, while Chitwan Rhinos sit fourth on five.

Lumbini suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday, when Kathmandu beat them by 36 runs in Kirtipur. Kathmandu posted 160 for 8 and bowled Lumbini out for 124, a result that moved Kathmandu up to second place.

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Below the top four, Janakpur Bolts, Karnali Yaks and Biratnagar Kings all have four points, while Pokhara Avengers are still without a point after four straight defeats. Pokhara can reach at most six points from their remaining three games, and one more defeat would end their playoff hopes.

The remaining games will decide the table. Lumbini need one win from their last two games, against Karnali and Biratnagar, to reach nine points, while Kathmandu could finish top if they win all three of their remaining games. Two games are scheduled for Monday, Karnali against Pokhara and Chitwan against Kathmandu, and Janakpur face Sudurpaschim on Tuesday. There are no games today, on Laxmi Puja, or on Wednesday, on Bhai Tika.

With the top four going through to the playoffs, every remaining game carries weight for the teams chasing them, and net run rate could still decide who goes through if teams finish level on points.