KATHMANDU: Sudurpaschim Royals finished first in the table, guaranteeing their spot in the Nepal Premier League's (NPL) first qualifier. After defeating Karnali Yaks by six wickets in their final league game on Monday, they finished the league stage with a stellar 12 points, which they earned from six victories and just one defeat.

With ten points from five wins and two losses, the Janakpur Bolts came in second in the standings. Even though Karnali Yaks lost against Sudurpaschim, they were still able to hold onto fourth place in the standings. To maintain their chances of winning the tournament, they will now play the Chitwan Rhinos in the elimination round.

Karnali Yaks and Chitwan Rhinos both finished the league stage with eight points apiece after three losses and four victories. A high-stakes elimination match between the two teams was set up, nevertheless, as Karnali maintained fourth place based on their overall performance criteria.

The playoff format gives the top two teams a significant advantage. The winner of Qualifier 1, featuring Sudurpaschim Royals and Janakpur Bolts, will earn a direct spot in the final. Meanwhile, the losing team will have another opportunity to advance by playing the winner of the eliminator round in Qualifier 2.

The two teams that win the NPL championship in the end will be decided by the forthcoming playoff games. As the competition enters its critical phase, Chitwan Rhinos and Karnali Yaks are still very much in the running, but Sudurpaschim Royals are the favorites due to their impressive run and Janakpur Bolts' reliable performances.