Kishore Mahato’s 4 wickets restrict Royals to 123

KATHMANDU: The Sudurpaschim Royals set a modest target of 124 runs for Janakpur Bolts in their fifth match of the 2018 Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. After choosing to field after winning the toss, the Bolts kept the Royals to 123 runs in 20 overs at a cost of nine wickets.

With openers Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari establishing a strong 55-run partnership, the Royals got off to a bright start. Before the middle-order hitters found it difficult to keep up the pace, Zaib and Bhandari laid the groundwork for the innings. Ishan Pandey (17 off 14 balls) and Brandon McMullen (11 off 17 balls) both contributed some significant runs to the total.

But the Royals' batting lineup as a whole struggled. While Harmit Singh only scored one run, captain Dipendra Singh Airee went out for a duck. Additionally, Scott Kuggeleijn (7 runs), Naren Saud (3 runs), and Aarif Sheikh (6 runs) were unable to have a major effect. Only two batsmen remained undefeated: Abinash Bohora (2 not out) and Naresh Budhayer (9 not out).

As part of the Bolts' exceptional bowling performance, Kishore Mahato claimed four crucial wickets, including those of Ishan Pandey, Aarif Sheikh, Scott Kuggeleijn, and Naren Saud. In order to restrict the Royals' batting onslaught, his meticulous bowling was essential.

Harsh Thaker contributed one wicket to his total, and Sher Malla and Arniko Yadav also made significant contributions with two wickets each. The bowling team's combined efforts prevented the Royals from posting a challenging mark.

With Janakpur Bolts hoping to build on their bowling prowess and extend their tournament winning streak, the game has set the scenario for an exciting chase. The Royals, however, will depend on their bowlers to defend the low total and win the match.