Dhangadhi, April 18

Shakti Prasad Gauchan-led Rupandehi Challengers will face Biratnagar Kings, under the captaincy of Sarad Vesawkar, in the first qualifier match of the Sagarmatha Cement Dhangadhi Premier League here at the SSP Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The winners of the match will advance to the final, while the losing side will get second chance as they play against the winners of the playoff match, between Kathmandu Goldens and Dhangadhi Team Chauraha.

Challengers — who topped the table with eight points — had won four consecutive matches, including a 61-run victory over Kings, before facing a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Chauraha in their last league round match.

Challengers recorded wins against Kanchanpur Iconic (14 runs), CYC Attariya (42 runs) and Kathmandu Goldens (15 runs). Challengers skipper Gauchan said he was hopeful of beating Kings once again to make it to the final. “The young players of the teams are giving their best performance so we will win the match,” he said.

On the other hand, Kings won three matches out of five to finish second position in league round.

Kings, who lost to Challengers, defeated Chauraha (23 runs) in their opener but faced defeats against Goldens (86 runs) before outplaying Attariya (eight wickets) and Iconic (five wickets).

Biratnagar skipper Vesawkar was confident of winning the match and said his team had improved in both bowling and batting. “We also learnt from defeats of the league round matches and will put up an improved show against Challengers,” said Vesawkar. Similarly, Kathmandu Goldens and Dhangadhi Team Chauraha finished third and fourth respectively on better run rate despite accumulating four points, to finish tied with Kanchanpur Iconic (fifth) and CYC Attariya (sixth), and earned their places in the playoff.

Goldens had registered a 24-run win against Iconic and defeated Kings by 86 runs, while Chauraha saw off Goldens by 11 runs and Challengers by six wickets in their last two matches.