Janakpur Bolts v Lumbini Lions | Match Preview | Teams Probable XIs

The Lumbini Lions are set to play their third match in as many days—a daunting task for a team reeling from three consecutive defeats. Their bowling attack has appeared toothless, conceding another big total (187/4) in their 45-run loss to Sudur Paschim Royals. To stay in playoff contention, the Lions must win this crucial contest. However, they face the formidable Janakpur Bolts, another unbeaten team in the tournament so far.

One major issue for the Lions has been their instability at the top, with three different opening pairs in as many matches. Despite the struggles, there were positives in their last game, particularly Ramon Simmonds’ bowling effort (2 wickets) and Bibek Yadav’s brilliant unbeaten 77. However, their bowling unit as a whole has struggled, and they will likely focus on restricting the Bolts to a below-par total and chasing it down. The Lions are further hampered by the injury concerns of Ben Cutting, who is carrying a niggle and will not bowl, adding to their woes.

On the other hand, the Janakpur Bolts have been in excellent form, with Kishore Mahato and Lalit Rajbanshi sharing 11 wickets between them and consistently putting the opposition under pressure. The Bolts have won all three of their games by chasing modest totals, thanks to solid contributions from their top five batters.

It will be intriguing to see how they perform if they bat first and attempt to set a target for the first time in the tournament. Players like Shubh Kansakar, who has yet to bat, bowl, or take a catch, and Tul Bahadur Thapa, who has bowled only two overs in three games, might get more opportunities as the tournament progresses. Despite these unused resources, the Bolts are likely to stick with their winning combination for this match.