Bolts secure 3rd consecutive win, beating Pokhara by 7 wickets

KATHMANDU: The Janakpur Bolts continued their winning run in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Thursday at the Tribhuvan Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, defeating the Pokhara Avengers by a commanding seven wickets. This victory, their third consecutive in the current campaign, further solidified their position at the top of the points table.

Janakpur lost three wickets in chasing the 139-run goal set by Pokhara, which they accomplished in just 17.1 overs. Lahiru Milantha led the attack with eight boundaries and a quick 45 runs off 32 balls.

His strong showing laid the groundwork for the chase, which saw Aasif Sheikh score 33 runs off of 34 balls. Janakpur won easily thanks to the unbroken performances of James Neesham and Harsh Thaker, who finished with 40 and 13 runs, respectively.

With one wicket each from captain Kushal Bhurtel, Michael Leask, and Bipin Khatri, the bowlers for the Pokhara Avengers made some progress. Their attempts, however, were unable to halt Janakpur's raging pursuit. The Avengers took wickets, but they couldn't generate enough pressure to stop the Bolts' chase.

Pokhara Avengers chose to bat first earlier in the game, however they were only able to score 138/7 in their 20 overs. Prior to being removed by Lalit Rajbanshi, Matthew Critchley was the Avengers' leading scorer with 35 runs off 30 balls, including three boundaries and a six. Kishore Mahato dismissed Michael Leask after he scored a scorching 25 off 12 balls.

Setbacks plagued Pokhara's innings as wickets fell frequently. Andres Ghosh, his partner, was out for 16 runs, while opener Dinesh Kharel was out for just 10. The squad struggled to form any meaningful partnerships after Rameon Reifer added 17 runs before getting caught off James Neesham's bowling.

Janakpur’s bowlers dominated the Pokhara innings, with Lalit Rajbanshi being the standout performer, taking three wickets for 31 runs in his four overs. James Neesham added two wickets to his name, while Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato each claimed a wicket, ensuring Pokhara’s batting lineup never got going.

The Janakpur Bolts have six points and are still undefeated after their victory, giving them a commanding lead in the league. Pokhara Avengers, on the other hand, have yet to win and have already suffered two consecutive defeats. The Sudurpaschim Royals will play the Kathmandu Gurkhas in the second match of the day, which is scheduled to begin at 1 pm.