Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Sudurpaschim Royals, NPL, Today Match Prediction 05 December 2024

KMG vs SPR Match Prediction & Analysis

It's early days but the 2024 Nepal Premier League is already delivering plenty of exciting moments and memorable plays with both bat and ball. As this game brings together two teams who have already experienced a victory, there should be plenty of confidence in the two squads and a high scoring contest can certainly not be ruled out.

Already the teams are starting to jostle for position in the table and with only the top four advancing to the knockout stage, there is very room for error and means that the other half of the sides will not progress!

Right now, Kathmandu Gurkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals are occupying the final two top four places and they will be desperate to retain those positions moving forward.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

KMG

W L

KNY

149/5 in 20.0 7.45

NPL

Kathmandu Gurkhas beat Karnali Yaks by 3 wickets 04 Dec 2024

KMG

153/7 in 19.3 7.85

KMG

111/9 in 20.0 5.55

NPL

Chitwan Rhinos beat Kathmandu Gurkhas by 5 wickets 02 Dec 2024

CR

114/5 in 17.1 6.64

SPR

W

SPR

182/7 in 20.0 9.1

NPL

Sudurpaschim Royals beat Biratnagar Kings by 90 runs

03 Dec 2024

BK

92/10 in 16.1 5.69

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Kathmandu Gurkhas Preview

The Ghurkas showed plenty of grit and determination to get over the line and record their first win of the tournament with a narrow 3 wickets and 3 balls victory over Karnali Yaks on Wednesday.

With a team that has plenty of big names and plenty of cricketing talent, the team management will be expecting that victory to be a springboard for future success and other teams will be wary of them going up another level.

When batting, we can expect keeper-batter Stephen Eskinazi to provide the majority of the aggression although 21 year old Netherlands international Michael Levitt will also bat in a similar fashion.

Rashid Khan is dangerous in all conditions and he will be backed up by Karan KC and Gerhard Erasmus in this clash.

Kathmandu Gurkhas Predicted Playing XI:

Shankar Rana, Michael Levitt, Stephen Eskinazi (wk), Bhim Sharki, Gerhard Erasmus, Sumit Maharjan, Karan KC (c), Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam, Nathan Sowter, Dipesh Kandel

Kathmandu Gurkhas Actual Playing XI:

Bhim Sharki, Michael Levitt, Shankar Rana, Sumit Maharjan, Gerhard Erasmus, Karan KC, Pratik Shrestha, Stephen Eskinazi, Nathan Sowter, Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam

Sudurpaschim Royals Preview

It is one game down and one win on the board for Sudurpaschim Royals who saw off the Biratnagar Kings with ease in their opening match. It was a fine performance from both the batting and bowling unit and they will be hoping for more of the same come Thursday morning.

With the bat, we can expect the top order duo of keeper-batter Binod Bhandari and Scotland international Brandon McMullen to be the main attacking threats. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee has plenty of experience at this level and he can play different roles from number seven but hit 57 not out from 24 balls in the last game.

He was the only bowler to go wicketless though, and his job of captaincy should be nice and easy with so much confidence in his bowling group ahead of this fixture.

Sudurpaschim Royals Predicted Playing XI:

Amit Shrestha, Binod Bhandari (wk), Brandon McMullen, Aarif Sheikh, Saif Zaib, Ishan Pandey, Dipendra Singh Airee (c), Scott Kuggeleijn, Basant Khatri, Abinash Bohara, Naresh Budayair

Sudurpaschim Royals Actual Playing XI:

Naresh Budayair, Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Scott Kuggeleijn, Abinash Bohara, Dipendra Singh Airee, Brandon McMullen, Naren Saud , Saif Zaib, Rohan Mustafa, Ishan Pandey

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It will be clear and sunny throughout this game in Kirtipur but temperatures will be typical of this time of year with only the high-teens touched and nothing higher. Humidity will hover around 60%.

KMG vs SPR Pitch Report

The pitch in Kirtipur tends to get better for batting on as the day progresses but there should also be some assistance for the bowlers in this clash. A par score batting first is likely to be over 155.

Toss: To Bowl

Five of the first seven games in the tournament have been won by the teams fielding first so we expect both captains to go out to the middle planning to bowl first if they win the toss.