KATHMANDU: Defending champions Janakpur Bolts clinched their first victory of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 2, defeating Chitwan Rhinos by six wickets on Tuesday at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Chasing a target of 177 runs, Janakpur produced a commanding batting display, racing to 180/4 in just 17.3 overs. The win comes as a timely boost for the side, which had struggled earlier in the tournament.
Maaz Sadaqat and Anil Sah led the charge with fluent half-centuries, anchoring the innings with disciplined yet aggressive batting. Their partnership ensured Janakpur stayed comfortably ahead of the required run rate throughout the chase, sealing a convincing win.
Earlier, Chitwan Rhinos posted 176/4 in their 20 overs, thanks to a superb opening stand between Dawid Malan and Arjun Saud.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Chitwan made a tactical shift by dropping regular opener Deepak Bohara and sending Saud alongside Malan. The decision paid immediate dividends as the pair stitched a brilliant 112-run partnership, the second century opening stand of this NPL season and the highest for the first wicket so far.
Malan top-scored with a commanding 80 off 54 balls, striking four fours and five sixes before being trapped LBW by Maaz Sadaqat in the 19th over. Saud, opening for the first time this season, added 52 off 39 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. He was dismissed by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton off Sanjay Krishnamurti, moments after surviving a dropped catch.
Chitwan’s middle order failed to build on the strong foundation. Saif Zaib managed only 7 from 5 balls, while in-form all-rounder Ravi Bopara fell cheaply for 3 off 5.
Captain Kushal Malla provided a late flourish, hammering an unbeaten 30 off 14 balls with two sixes and two fours, adding 18 runs in the final over.
For Janakpur, Maaz Sadaqat, Anil Sah, Rupesh Singh, and Loftie-Eaton shared a wicket each.
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