Bhandari Shines as Sudurpashchim and Biratnagar Clash in High-Stakes NPL Qualifier
At the Tribhuvan Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, facing the Biratnagar Kings in the first qualifier, Bhandari reached his fifty off 44 balls. It was not a flashy innings, but it was steady—three boundaries, one cleanly struck six, and a whole lot of patience. What made it more impressive was the situation he walked into. Wickets were falling at the other end, partnerships were breaking before forming, and the pressure of a playoff knockout was creeping in. Yet, he held the innings together, anchoring every over as if he were ironing out the chaos around him.
By the time Sudurpashchim crossed the 100-run mark—105 for four in 15.1 overs—Bhandari was still out there, still fighting, now supported by Harmit Singh. Earlier, captain Dipendra Singh Airee had been run out for just 3, and Ishan Pandey managed only 13 before departing. The innings could have unraveled, but Bhandari simply refused to let that happen.
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And all of this came on a day already charged with significance. This matchup isn’t just another league fixture—it’s the first Qualifier of the second edition of the NPL. Sudurpashchim Royals finished at the top of the table with six wins out of seven, while Biratnagar Kings followed right behind with five victories. Today’s winner goes straight to the final, and the loser gets one more shot in the eliminator. So every moment carries weight.
Beyond today's innings, Bhandari has been one of the standout performers of the tournament. His consistency at the top for Sudurpashchim has been a big reason they dominated the league stage. Even without explosive opener Chris Lynn—who had to miss the qualifier due to commitments—the Royals still walked in with confidence, thanks to the form of Aarif Sheikh, Airee, and a strong bowling lineup led by Abinash Bohara.
On the other side, Biratnagar Kings aren’t exactly short on firepower either. Their captain, Sandeep Lamichhane, is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and has been nearly unplayable. Add in players like Martin Guptill, Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahmed, and Marchant de Lange, and you have a squad built for high-pressure cricket. Which is exactly what this match has become.
So as Sudurpashchim battles through the middle overs and Bhandari continues to steady the ship, the stakes couldn’t be clearer: a direct ticket to the NPL final is waiting, and only one team will claim it.
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