Prime Minister Cup being played in Kathmandu and Bhairahawa has completed 33 matches out of 45 scheduled league stage matches. With 12 matches left in the round, every teams have played most of their matches with Bagmati province set to play their last league match today against Lumbini province who have played 5 matches so far, least for any. Lets have a look at the positions of teams and how are they looking up for finishing top 2 to proceed for Final or top 4 to qualify for Elite Trophy scheduled to play later this year in 2-dayers format.
1. Nepal Police Club
Matches Played: 6 | Wins: 6 | Points: 12
Matches Left: Gandaki, Lumbini, Sudurpaschim
Maximum Reachable Points: 18
With 6th consecutive wins in the tournament, team led by Dipendra Singh Airee is only unbeaten side in the tournament and almost confirmed their spot for Elite Trophy unless they lose all the matches and other teams in top 6 wins most of the matches. Also, they are just a win away from confirming their berth in the Final. They even look stronger after Kushal Bhurtel joined the side coming back from Australia. Dilip Nath (167 runs) is leading runscorer for the side and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Sagar Dhakal leading the bowling chart for side with 16 wickets each.
Probability for Final: High Probability | For Elite Trophy: Almost certain
2. Bagmati Province
Matches Played: 8 | Wins: 5, Losses: 3 | Points: 10
Match Left: vs Lumbini
Maximum Reachable Points: 12
With last league match set to play tomorrow, first to complete all scheduled match, Bagmati province currently sits at 2nd position in table. However, for their qualification to the final, they not only need to win their last match but also expect Madhesh to lose their last match while Tribhuwan Army Club and Sudurpaschim doesn’t win more than a match though qualification for Elite Trophy could be possible if Madhesh lose their last match and APF lose atleast 1 of their last 3 (or despite of their wins in all match, NRR falls behind Bagmati). Ashutosh Ghiraiya is leading the leaderboard of batsmen for the side with 368 runs and Tournament’s leading wickettaker Surya Tamang leads the chart for bowlers grabing 24 wickets.
Probability for Final: Low | Probability for Elite Trophy: Probable
3. Madhesh Province
Matches Played: 8 | Wins: 5, Losses: 3 | Points: 10
Match Left: vs Lumbini
Maximum Reachable Points: 12
Exactly at the same situation as Bagmati but with slightly poorer NRR, Madhesh also need the same as Bagmati except they winning their last match against Lumbini province a day after and Bagmati finishing on the loser side againt Lumbini today. Leading runscorer for Madhesh Anil Kumar Sah (370 runs) is also top scorer of the tournament while Ranjit Kumar lead the bowlers chart for team with 19 wickets.
Probability for Final: Low | Probability for Elite Trophy: Probable
4. Tribhuwan Army Club
Matches Played: 6 | Wins: 4, Losses: 2 | Points: 8
Matches Left: vs Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Gandaki
Maximum Reachable Points: 14
Departmental team filled with many national team regulars and led by Binod Bhandari currently sits at No 4 in the points table but have 3 matches left to play, 2 more than those in 2nd and 3rd. Win in all of their remaining contests will secure their place in the final. 2 wins with Sudurpaschim losing atleast one match could make points table interesting with as many as 5 teams could finish at 12 points. Skipper Binod Bhandari (228 runs) leads the runs chart while Shahab Alam (16 wickets) is the pick of the bowlers.
Probability for Final: Probable | Probability for Elite Trophy: Certain
5. Sudurpaschim Province
Matches Played: 6 | Wins: 4, Losses: 2 | Points: 8
Matches Left: vs TAC, NPC, APFC
Maximum Reachable Points: 14
Sudurpaschim Province started the tournament with 3 wins in Bhairahawa but quickly after traveling to Kathmandu, they have lost 2 matches in next 3 against Bagmati and Madhesh. Now, Sudurpaschim looks be at the same position as TAC but they have all 3 matches left against Departmental sides. They need to win all 3 matches to confirm the Final spot while 2 wins might bring them to tight position in points table with 12 points. Naren Bhatt (243 runs) is top batter and Sher Malla (21 wickets) is top bowler for the side.
Probability for Final: Unlikely | Probability for Elite Trophy: Moderate
6. Armed Police Force Club
Matches Played: 6 | Wins: 3, Losses: 3 | Points: 6
Matches Left: vs Gandaki, Sudurpaschim, Karnali
Maximum Reachable Points: 12
Departmental side led by national team skipper Rohit Paudel and the defending champion side looks in dangerous place this edition having lost to both departmental opponents before losing to Madhesh in Kathmandu. Now they are almost out of the Final contest while they need to win all their remaining matches to finish in that “12 points contest”. Skipper Paudel is leading rungetter (251 runs) and leading wickettaker (12 wickets) for the side.
Probability for Final: Unlikely | Probability for Elite Trophy: Moderate
7. Karnali Province
Matches Played: 7 | Wins: 3, Losses: 4 | Points: 6
Matches Left: vs TAC, APFC
Maximum Reachable Points: 10
The youngest team, in terms of experience, is having tournament to remember beating Gandaki, Lumbini and Koshi. However, their chance for next round looks very much improbable with both the remaining matches being against departmental sides. Arjun Gharti (190 runs) and Dinesh Adhikari (11 wickets) are leading runscorer and leading wicket takers respectively.
Probability for Final: Very Unlikely | Probability for Elite Trophy: Very Unlikely
8. Gandaki Province
Matches Played: 6 | Wins: 2, Losses: 4 | Points: 6
Matches Left: vs APFC, NPC, TAC
Maximum Reachable Points: 10
Young Gandaki side is having average tournament losing 4 out of 6 of their matches despite upset win against Bagmati. With all 3 matches left, all against departmental sides, Gandaki province needs to win all 3 matches to remain in the contest. A loss will eliminate them from the contest. Karan Pangeni (121 runs) and Bipin Khatri (15 wickets) are pick of the tournament so far the team.
Probability for Final: Very Unlikely | Probability for Elite Trophy: Very Unlikely
9. Lumbini Province
Matches Played: 5 | Wins: 1, Losses: 4 | Points: 2
Matches Left: vs Bagmati, Madhesh, Koshi, NPC
Maximum Reachable Points: 10
Having only played 5 matches, all in their home ground Bhairahawa, Lumbini Province has already lost 4 matches and to keep any chance open they need to win all their remaining matches to be played in Kathmandu. Out of 4 matches left, 3 are against the top 3 sides in points table. Mrinal Gurung leads the batters chart with 135 runs while Ajay Chauhan is at top of bowlers chart with 7 wickets for the team.
Probability for Final: Very Unlikely | Probability for Elite Trophy: Very Unlikely
10. Koshi Province- 8 matches
Matches Played: 8 | Losses: 8 |Points: 0
Matches Left: vs Lumbini
Maximum Reachable Points: 2
The only team yet to win match in the tournament, Koshi is having very devastating tournament. They are all but out of the tournament with their 8 losses. They have only one match left against Lumbini where they hope to get the solidarity win. Sujan Thapaliya (262 runs) and Avyash Timilsina (9 wickets) are top players for the side.
Probability for Final: Eliminated | Probability for Elite Trophy: Eliminated
(Note: The probabilities are subjective assessments based on the current standings and potential outcomes of upcoming matches.)
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