Sudurpaschim Royals handed Janakpur Bolts their first defeat in the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), securing a commanding 72-run victory.
In the match held on Wednesday at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, Janakpur’s unbeaten streak came to an end as they were dismissed for a mere 51 runs while chasing a modest target of 124 runs. This is the lowest team total of the current NPL season. With this win, Sudurpaschim climbed to the top of the standings, while Janakpur dropped to second place.
Sudurpaschim’s bowlers delivered an exceptional performance, leaving no room for Janakpur’s batters to settle. Joshua Trump was the only player for Janakpur to reach double figures, scoring 13 runs.
For Sudurpaschim, captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey, and Harmeet Singh each claimed two wickets, while Naren Saud, Scott Kuggeleijn, and Saif Zaib picked up one wicket apiece. Ishan Pandey was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round contribution.
Earlier, after losing the toss, Sudurpaschim Royals managed to score 123 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Opener Binod Bhandari top-scored for Sudurpaschim with 33 runs, followed by Saif Zaib with 21 runs, Ishan Pandey with 17, and Brandon McMullen with 11. Other batters failed to reach double digits.
In the bowling department, Janakpur’s Kishor Mahato stood out, claiming four wickets for 35 runs in his four-over spell. Similarly, Sher Malla and Araniko Yadav took two wickets each, while Harsh Thaker grabbed one.
Both Janakpur and Sudurpaschim are considered strong contenders in the league. With five matches completed, Sudurpaschim now leads the table with eight points, while Janakpur, despite their loss, also has eight points but ranks second due to net run rate.
