Sudurpaschim defeat Janakpur to top NPL standings

KATHMANDU: The Sudurpaschim Royals secured an emphatic 72-run victory against the Janakpur Bolts in their fifth Nepal Premier League (NPL) match on Wednesday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. This dominant victory puts the Royals at the top of the points table.

Janakpur chose to bowl first after winning the toss, giving Sudurpaschim the opportunity to bat. The Royals finished their innings at 123 for nine in 20 overs, having set a target of 124 runs. With a partnership of 55 runs, their openers, Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari, gave them a strong start. Prior to being removed by Harsh Thaker, Zaib scored 21 runs off 21 balls, including two sixes. With 33 runs off of 37 balls, Bhandari struck three fours and a six to take the lead.

The other batters in Sudurpaschim's lineup had trouble contributing. Ishan Pandey added 17 runs off 14 balls, and Brandon McMullen took 11 runs off 17 balls. Harmeet Singh only scored one run, while important players including captain Dipendra Singh Airee were dismissed, lowering the team's total.

The bowlers for Janakpur did a great job, especially Kishore Mahato, who claimed four vital wickets for 35 runs. Arniko Yada and Sher Malla each claimed two wickets, while Harsh Thaker claimed one. They managed to keep Sudurpaschim to a manageable score.

The Royals' unrelenting bowling attack caused the Janakpur Bolts to collapse while chasing a small score. In just 12.1 overs, they were knocked out for just 51 runs. The most impressive bowler was Harmeet Singh, who claimed two wickets in his spell, which included two maiden overs, while giving up only two runs. Ishan Pandey and Dipendra Singh Airee both claimed two wickets, while Scott Kuggeleijn, Saif Ali Zaib, and Naren Saud each contributed one wicket.

Joshua Tromp reached the highest individual score of 13 runs as Janakpur's batting crumbled under pressure. Because of the quick falls of important players like Lahiru Milantha (7), Harsh Thaker (5), and Shubh Kansakar (0), none of the other batters achieved double figures. After 11 balls, Kishore Mahato was still not out at zero.

With eight points from five games, Sudurpaschim Royals surpassed Janakpur Bolts on net run rate despite both teams having the same number of points. This decisive victory propelled the team to the top of the points chart. The Royals' outstanding performance made their hopes of winning a championship even more evident.