KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Chitwan Rhinos defeated Janakpur Bolts by 32 runs in the 25th match of the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) held at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground on Saturday.
With the win, Rhinos have secured eight points in the league round of the NPL having played the allotted seven games, pushing them up to the third place and a possibility of qualification to the playoffs. Bolts are already qualified for the playoffs of the NPL, having secured ten points in seven matches.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Rhinos set a target of 181 runs for Bolts in the second match of the day.
NPL: Rhinos set a target of 181 runs for Bolts
For the Rhinos, captain Kushal Malla scored a quickfire 72 runs off 41 balls, smashing seven sixes and three fours. English allrounder Ravi Bopara scored 44 runs off 32 hitting five fours and a six. Opening batsman Hassan Eisakhil scored 28 runs off 19 balls hitting four fours and a six while Santosh Karki scored 14 runs off 12 balls.
From the Bolts’ bowling front, slow bowler Lalit Rajbanshi claimed two wickets and maintained a miserly economy of 2.75 runs per over in his allotted four overs while also delivering two maiden overs. Harsh Thaker, James Neesham, and Mohammad Mohsin took one wicket apiece.
Chasing a target of 181 runs from Rhinos, Bolts were bundled out in the 18th over. They could manage to score only 148 runs and lost by 32 runs. This is Janakpur's second defeat.
From the Bolts’ batting front, New Zealander allrounder James Neesham registered the fastest half-century of the NPL. He scored 65 runs off just 24 balls, smashing five fours and six sixes. Asif Sheikh scored 23 runs off 26 balls with four fours, Shubh Kansakar scored 15 runs off 12 balls with two fours and a six and Mohamamd Mohsin scored 13 runs off 12 balls. No other batsman from the Bolts could score runs in double digits.
From the Rhino’s bowling attack, Rijan Dhakal, Sohail Tanvir and Kushal Malla took two wickets each while Amar Routela took one wicket.
