Sudurpaschim Royals elected to bat first after winning the toss against Lumbini Lions in the final of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Saturday.

Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee announced the decision at the toss, opting to set a target in the season-ending clash.

Both teams have made one change to their overseas line-ups for the final. Sudurpaschim brought in Puneet Mehra in place of Mukhtar Ahmed. Mehra had featured in two league-stage matches. Among the Nepali players, Deepak Bohara replaced Milan Bohara in the playing XI.

Lumbini, meanwhile, replaced JJ Smit with Movin Subasingha.

If Lumbini go on to lift the title, they will register their sixth consecutive win, equalling Sudurpaschim’s record of six straight victories at the start of NPL Season 2. Sudurpaschim’s winning streak was snapped by Biratnagar Kings in their seventh match of the league stage, but they later defeated the same opponents in Qualifier 1 to book a place in the final.

Lumbini secured their play-off berth by winning their final three league-stage matches before beating Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Eliminator and Biratnagar in Qualifier 2 to reach their maiden NPL final.

In the league stage, Sudurpaschim defeated Lumbini by seven wickets. Last season, Sudurpaschim had also beaten Lumbini comfortably by 45 runs. Lumbini endured a difficult campaign last year, finishing bottom after losing six of their seven matches.

The final marks Sudurpaschim’s second consecutive appearance in the NPL title match, while Lumbini are contesting the final for the first time.