NPL: Janakpur Bolts win against Pokhara Avengers  

KATHMANDU:- Janakpur Bolts have secured their second consecutive victory in the ongoing third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 cricket tournament in Kathmandu. In today’s match, Janakpur Bolts defeated Pokhara Avengers by nine runs.

Meanwhile, Pokhara has been unable to break its losing streak in the tournament; the team also suffered a defeat against Sudurpaschim Royals in its opening match. Chasing a target of 148 runs set by Janakpur, Pokhara managed to score 138 runs for the loss of nine wickets within their allotted 20 overs.

For Pokhara, Kushal Bhurtel was the top scorer with 35 runs off 24 balls, including five fours. Additionally, Bipin Acharya scored 20 runs, Bipin Khatri remained unbeaten on 17, and Kiran Thagunna contributed 15 runs. None of the other batters managed to reach double figures.

In the bowling department, Moeen Ali was the standout performer for Janakpur Bolts, taking three wickets for 13 runs—including one maiden over—in his four-over spell. Harmeet Singh and Saif Hassan claimed two wickets each, while Jimmy Neesham and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Janakpur—having lost the toss and been invited to bat—scored 147 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opening batter Tritraj Das played a half-century innings for Janakpur, scoring 61 runs off 55 balls, aided by seven fours and two sixes.

This is Tritraj’s first half-century in his ongoing NPL career. Meanwhile, Moeen Ali scored 21 runs off 16 balls, including three fours and a six. Abhishek Tiwari, who remained unbeaten, played an excellent innings of 24 runs off 10 balls, featuring two sixes and a four. Jimmy Neesham was dismissed for 11 runs.

In the bowling department for Pokhara Avengers, Shakib Al Hasan took the most wickets—three—while conceding 15 runs in his four overs. Additionally, Chamika Karunaratne claimed two wickets, while Mehidy Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin each took one. Following today’s victory, Janakpur has climbed to second place in the points table, having accumulated four points from three matches. Pokhara, meanwhile, remains at the bottom of the table with no points.