Karnali Yaks defeated Chitwan Rhinos in the eliminator to book their place in the clash against Janakpur Bolts. The Yaks posted a competitive total of 175/6, powered by their three overseas batters. Jaykishan Kolsawala (53) led the charge at the top, while William Bosisto (52) and Chadwick Walton (46*) provided valuable contributions. The bowlers then delivered another solid performance, with top pacers Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav picking up two wickets each. Spinners Zeeshan Maqsood added three more wickets to his tally, and Bipin Sharma continued his impressive wicket-taking streak, which now extends to seven matches.
Janakpur Bolts, on the other hand, faltered in their first qualifier, losing by 8 wickets after posting a below-par total. With regular skipper Anil Sah absent due to injury, Asif Sheikh took over the captaincy. James Neesham was the lone bright spot with a fluent 45, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to deliver on the big stage. The decision to promote Arniko Yadav up the order backfired, as the left-hander could manage only 11 off 20 balls. Among the bowlers, Kishore Mahato stood out with an economical spell of 3-0-14-1.
Karnali Yaks started their campaign with an 8-wicket loss against Janakpur Bolts, but they have come a long way since then. Both teams enjoyed a 4-match winning streak earlier in the tournament, but the Yaks now seem better positioned, especially in batting. In the eliminator, Jaykishan Kolsawala and William Bosisto scored fifties, while Chadwick Walton remained unbeaten on 46, showcasing their form. The addition of William Bosisto has brought much-needed stability to their lineup.
In contrast, the Bolts’ top order has struggled for the second consecutive match, with James Neesham once again top-scoring with 45. For Janakpur Bolts to prevail, their top order needs to fire; otherwise, relying solely on Neesham will be too much to ask. Having lost three of their last four games, the Bolts appear to be the underdogs in this clash.
Probable Playing XI (Karnali Yaks)
Rit Gautam
Jaykishan Kolsawala
Chadwick Walton
William Bosisto
Zeeshan Maqsood
Dev Khanal
Gulsan Jha
Arjun Gharti
Sompal Kami
Nandan Yadav
Bipin Sharma
Janakpur Bolts (Probable Playing XIs)
Aasif Sheikh
Lahiru Milantha
Shubh Kansakar
James Neesham
Harsh Thaker
Akash Tripathi
Muhammad Mohsin
Sher Malla
Hemant Dhami/Arniko Yadav
Lalit Rajbanshi
Kishore Mahato
