KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Janakpur Bolts defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by eight wickets in the fifth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Thursday, chasing a target of 116 with 16 balls to spare at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Kathmandu were bowled out for 115 in 19.3 overs after losing three wickets in the powerplay and suffering a late collapse. Janakpur reached 116 for two in 17.2 overs to seal a comfortable victory.
Janakpur’s chase got off to a shaky start when opener Tritraj Das was caught by Smit Patel off Ripon Mandal for five in the second over. Mayan Yadav was run out for nine in the sixth over, leaving Janakpur at 37 for two.
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However, Moeen Ali and Saif Hassan steadied the innings with an unbeaten 79-run partnership for the third wicket. Experienced all-rounder Moeen top-scored with 58 off 51 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century in 49 balls.
Saif provided strong support with an unbeaten 40 off 39 balls, including one four and three sixes. Ripon Mandal was Kathmandu’s only successful bowler, taking one wicket for 17 runs in three overs. Despite using nine other bowlers, Kathmandu failed to break the partnership.
Earlier, Kathmandu struggled after being put in to bat, managing only 36 runs for three wickets during the powerplay. Openers Sam Hazlett (one), Harishankar Shah (nine) and Smit Patel (13) fell cheaply.
Bhim Sarki top-scored for Kathmandu with 33 off 29 balls, including four fours. Rashid Khan contributed 17 off 14 balls, while Sumit Maharjan added 10.
Kathmandu’s innings unravelled in the 17th over, when they lost three wickets in quick succession at 99 runs. Captain Karan KC was dismissed for eight, Mohammad Adil Alam fell for a duck, and Jahandad Khan scored five. Ripon Mandal was the last wicket to fall, scoring nine, as Kathmandu were dismissed for 115.
Rahul Yadav led Janakpur’s bowling attack with four wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Saif Hassan took two wickets while conceding just 11 runs in his four overs. Moeen Ali claimed one wicket for 23 runs, captain Harmeet Singh took one for 18 in 3.3 overs, and Lalit Rajbanshi finished with one for 30 in four overs.
