Janakpur Bolts win NPL title (With photos)

KATHMANDU: Janakpur Bolts won the title of the first edition of Nepal Premier League by defeating Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets.

The match was held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

Janakpur achieved the target of 185 runs posted by Sudurpaschim in 19.2 overs losing five wickets.

Lahiru Milantha’s stunning batting performance helped Janakpur to win the title. He scored 87 runs off 49 balls with nine fours and four sixes. Captain Asif Sheikh contributed 33 runs.

Saif Ali Zaib, captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey and Scott Kuggeleijn took one wicket each for Sudurpaschim.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim won the toss and decided to bat first. They scored 184 runs in allotted 20 overs losing nine wickets.

Opener Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari scored a century partnership. They made 117 runs.

Zaib was dismissed with 69 off 43 balls and Bhandari with 41 off 31 balls.

Brandon McMullen and Harmanpreet Singh made 14 runs each and Scott Kuggeleijn contributed 13 runs.

Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato took three wickets each for Janakpur. Similarly, James Neesham and Lalit Rajbansi claimed one wicket each.

With this, Janakpur won Rs 11 million along with the title. Likewise, Sudurpaschim, who secured second position, received 5.1 million.