Biratnagar Kings stormed into Qualifier 1 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) after defeating Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets in just 11.5 overs at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

Biratnagar needed to chase 148 inside 13 overs to surpass Kathmandu Gorkhas on net run rate. They achieved the target comfortably, driven by a blistering opening stand between Sam Heazlett and Faf du Plessis, who added 97 runs within seven overs.

Faf du Plessis hammered a 19-ball half-century—the second-fastest fifty in NPL history—before being dismissed for 50, hitting five fours and four sixes. He struck four boundaries and a sixer off Dipendra Singh Airee in a single over. Heazlett was equally aggressive, scoring 51 from 27 deliveries with three fours and four sixes.

Martin Guptill contributed 22 off nine balls, striking three sixes before being run out, while Basir Ahamed fell for eight. Pratish GC ensured a swift finish, smashing consecutive sixes off Abinash Bohara as Biratnagar raced past the target inside 12 overs. Lokesh Bam (3 not out) and Pratish (13 not out off three balls) completed the chase. Abinash Bohara and Harmeet Singh took one wicket each for Sudurpaschim.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim had posted 147 for six after being asked to bat. As in the previous match, the innings was anchored by a 72-run partnership between Aarif Sheikh and Ishan Pandey. Aarif remained unbeaten on 45 off 32 balls with one four and three sixes, while Ishan scored 38 off 35 with two fours and two sixes.

Opener Josh Brown made 24 from 25 deliveries, and captain Dipendra Singh Airee struck a brisk 19 off 11 balls. Binod Bhandari chipped in with 15. Biratnagar’s captain Sandeep Lamichhane led the bowling, taking three wickets for 20. Pratish GC picked up two in the final over for just four runs, and Basir Aahmed added one.

The result means Sudurpaschim and Biratnagar will meet again in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday for a place in the final, while Kathmandu Gorkhas drop to third and will face Lumbini Lions in the Eliminator on Wednesday.