Sudurpaschim Royals triumphed over Janakpur Bolts with an impressive 72-run victory in their fifth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday. The match took place at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as the Royals cruised to the top of the points table.
Janakpur Opts to Field First
Winning the toss, Janakpur Bolts elected to field first, hoping to restrict Sudurpaschim to a manageable total. However, the Royals started their innings on a solid note, setting a target of 124 runs.
A Strong Opening Stand
The opening partnership between Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari laid the foundation for the Royals’ total. The duo put together 55 runs before Zaib was dismissed for 21 off 21 balls, which included two sixes. Bhandari, who played a steady knock, scored 33 runs off 37 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six.
Struggles in the Middle Order
The middle-order batsmen couldn’t capitalize on the strong start. Ishan Pandey managed a modest 17 runs from 14 balls, while Brandon McMullen contributed just 11 runs from 17 balls. The Royals’ captain, Dipendra Singh Airee, was dismissed for a duck, and Harmeet Singh could only manage 1 run, leaving the lower order to try and boost the total.
Janakpur’s Bowling Efforts
Kishore Mahato was the standout bowler for Janakpur, picking up 4 wickets for 35 runs. His disciplined bowling caused trouble for the Sudurpaschim batters. Sher Malla and Arniko Yadav each took two wickets, while Harsh Thaker claimed one.
Sudurpaschim Royals’ Dominant Bowling Display
In response, Janakpur Bolts’ chase fell apart quickly under the pressure of Sudurpaschim’s disciplined and aggressive bowling. Janakpur was bowled out for just 51 runs in 12.1 overs, falling 72 runs short of the target.
Harmeet Singh Shines with the Ball
Harmeet Singh’s superb bowling performance stood out, as he took 2 wickets for just 2 runs, including two maiden overs. Ishan Pandey and Dipendra Singh Airee also contributed with 2 wickets each. Naren Saud, Saif Ali Zaib, and Scott Kuggeleijn chipped in with one wicket apiece, making sure Janakpur had no chance of staging a comeback.
Janakpur’s Struggles with the Bat
Janakpur’s batting was dismal, with only Joshua Tromp managing to reach double figures, scoring 13 runs. The rest of the team crumbled quickly, with Lahiru Milantha (7), Harsh Thakar (5), Jimmy Nisam (4), Shubh Kansakar (0), Arniko Yadav (1), Sher Malla (0), and Lalit Rajbanshi (4) all falling cheaply. Kishore Mahato remained not out on 0 from 11 balls, but it was too little, too late for Janakpur.
Sudurpaschim Royals Leap to the Top
With the win, Sudurpaschim Royals moved to the top of the points table, with 8 points from 5 matches. Despite having the same points as Janakpur, the Royals’ superior net run rate gave them the edge over their opponents, who were left to regroup after this heavy defeat.
In conclusion, Sudurpaschim Royals’ all-round performance demonstrated their strength and versatility, while Janakpur Bolts will need to reflect on their poor batting performance if they hope to bounce back in the next match.
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