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Janakpur Bolts defeated Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets to clinch the title of first season of Nepal Premier League.

Chasing the target of 185 runs posted by Sudurpaschim Royals in the match held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday, Janakpur Bolts achieved the target in 19.2 overs losing five wickets.

Lahiru Milantha scored highest 87 runs for Janakpur, hitting nine fours and four sixes in 49 balls. With this, Milantha has become the highest run scorer in the tournament. He made 293 runs in 10 innings with two half centuries.

Janakpur scored 71 runs without the loss of any wicket in the powerplay.

Opener Aasif Sheikh contributed 33 runs off 19 balls with four fours and two sixes. Harsh Thaker scored 30 off 24 balls.

Winning the toss, opener Saif Zaib scored 69 runs off 43 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes in 43 balls.

Another opener, Binod Bhandari added 41 runs off 31 balls. Similarly, Brandon McMullen and Harmanpreet Singh made 14 runs each and Scott Kuggeleijn scored 13 runs while other batters failed to score in double digits.

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

Earlier, Janakpur had lost to Sudurpaschim by 72 runs in the league stage and by eight wickets in the first qualifier.

In a match filled with twists, tension, and towering sixes, Janakpur Bolts clinched a thrilling two-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks in Qualifier 2 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. With this win, Janakpur stormed into the final, setting up an eagerly anticipated clash against Sudurpaschim Royals on Saturday afternoon.

The final will be the third encounter between Sudurpaschim and Janakpur in this NPL. In the two previous matches, the Royals easily outclassed the Bolts.

Although Janakpur had lost to Sudurpaschim in Qualifier 1, Janakpur captain Aasif Sheikh looked ahead with optimism in the post-match conference. “I believe we’ll win Qualifier 2 and meet Sudurpaschim again in the final,” he declared confidently.

With Sheikh’s words coming true, the cricket fans eagerly await the epic clash between these two titans of this year’s NPL. Can Janakpur defy the odds, or will Sudurpaschim continue their dominance? The final promises to be a showdown for the history books.

Karnali Yaks, opting to bat first, found themselves struggling on a tricky pitch. Openers Dev Khanal (24 off 20) and Gulsan Jha (25 off 20) provided a glimmer of hope, but frequent wickets kept the scoring rate in check. Late cameos from William Bosisto (14) and Chadwick Walton (11) couldn’t prevent Karnali from posting a below-par total of 118/9 in 20 overs.

Janakpur’s bowlers were clinical. Lalit Rajbanshi delivered a stellar spell of 2/22, while Mohammad Mohsin was economical with figures of 2/14. Adding to the carnage, Jimmy Neesham bagged two wickets at crucial junctures, cementing his reputation as a match-winner.

But the chase was nothing but a thriller. Karnali’s fiery bowling attack had Janakpur on the ropes early, with the scoreboard reading a precarious 9/3 in just the third over. Karnali’s Sompal Kami and Bipin Sharma tore through the top order, sending Sheikh (4) and Lahiru Milantha (2) back to the pavilion.

Enter Neesham—the man for the big moments. With the game slipping away, Neesham unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, hammering 45 runs off just 17 balls. His innings, laced with five monstrous sixes and two fours, turned the tide in Janakpur’s favor, stunning Karnali’s bowlers and igniting the crowd.

Neesham’s dismissal swung the momentum back to Karnali. Middle-order contributions from Harsh Thaker (17 off 26) and Mayan Yadav (14 off 18) kept Janakpur afloat, but it was not enough with only a few wickets in hand. As the game hung in the balance, Sher Malla’s calm 16 off 10 balls, featuring a decisive six, sealed the deal with an over to spare.

For his all-round brilliance, Neesham was rightly named Player of the Match. When other batters struggled, New Zealand’s batting all-rounder has been saving Janakpur since he started playing. In Thursday’s match, he was bowled out by Karnali’s 16-year-old bowler Bipin Sharma.

After taking Janakpur to the final, Neesham stated that they deserved to be there. He also mentioned that the final is still to come and Janakpur has a chance to win the trophy. He pointed out that it was challenging to bat on the pitch at Kirtipur. “It’s a tough pitch. It’s hard to stay in. Extra power is needed. The pitch keeps changing. It’s tough in the morning, but it’s a little different in the afternoon,” he said.

Neesham also shared that Karnali’s Sharma had told him at the hotel that he would take his wicket. He also shared that he was having a great time in Nepal. “The hospitality is very good. I’m enjoying the game,” he said.

Sudurpaschim dominated the league stage, winning six out of seven matches, with their only loss coming against the Chitwan Rhinos. Janakpur Bolts, on the other hand, finished in second place, securing five wins out of seven matches but falling short against both Chitwan and Sudurpaschim.

After clinching Qualifier 1 against Janakpur, Sudurpaschim Royals’ wicketkeeper-batsman Binod Bhandari heaped praise on captain Dipendra Singh Airee’s leadership and performance. “Dipendra is currently the best player in Nepal. His batting, bowling, and fielding are exceptional,” said Bhandari. Highlighting Airee’s extensive experience, he added, “He has captained teams like Nepal Police Club, and now with the introduction of the NPL, his leadership has further matured.”

Bhandari also reflected on the team’s transformation. While the squad initially seemed a bit underwhelming before the tournament, he credited the inclusion of foreign players for balancing the team dynamics. “The foreign players fit perfectly into the team’s strategy, and with them on board, we are capable of winning the NPL,” he confidently stated.

The stage is now set for a blockbuster final. Sudurpaschim Royals, unbeaten against Janakpur this season, enter as favorites, having already defeated them twice, including a dominant league-stage victory. If Janakpur can break the Royals’ streak, it would be a redemption arc for the ages.

 Janakpur Bolts have secured a place in the final of the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) by defeating Karnali Yaks in today's second qualifier match.

Chasing a 119-run target set by Karnali in 19 overs, Janakpur achieved the goal with ease.

James Neesham was the top scorer for Janakpur, scoring 45 runs with two boundaries and five sixes off just 17 balls. Sher Malla was not out with 16, while Harsh Thakur contributed 17 runs. Mayan Yadav and Akash Tripathi scored 15 and 13, respectively.

On the bowling side, Karnali's Bipin Prasad Sharma took three wickets, while Sompal Kami, William Bosisto, and Zeeshan Maqsood each claimed one wicket.

Earlier, Karnali Yaks lost the toss and was put into to bat first.

The team posted 118 runs in 20 overs, losing nine wickets Gulshan Jha was the top scorer for Karnali with 25 runs, including one four and two sixes off 20 balls.

Opener Dev Khanal made 24 runs, hitting three boundaries and one six in 20 balls, while William Bosisto scored 14 runs off 15 balls, including one boundary. Zeeshan Maqsood and Unish Thakuri each contributed 12 runs, but no other players reached double digits.

Sompal Kami was dismissed for five runs, and Jaykishan Kolsawala made just one run.

For Janakpur, James Neesham, Mohammad Mohsin, and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi took two wickets each, while Harsh Thakur and Sher Malla claimed one wicket each.

With this victory, Janakpur will face Sudurpaschim Royals in the final on December 21. The NPL is underway at Tribhuvan University's Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Sudurpaschim Royals became the first finalists of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), defeating Janakpur Bolts by eight wickets with nine balls to spare in Qualifier 1. Janakpur will now face Karnali Yaks in Qualifier 2 on Thursday. The Yaks earned their spot by defeating Chitwan Rhinos by 21 runs in the Eliminator. Sudurpaschim will meet the winner of Qualifier 2 in the final, scheduled for Saturday.

The Royals, who topped the league table, have drawn comparisons to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the most successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as both teams sport similar yellow kits. Binod Bhandari, wearing jersey number 7 and donning the wicket keeping gloves, has been likened to India’s legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has led CSK to five IPL titles. Bhandari, named Player of the Match in Qualifier 1, has even adopted a hairstyle reminiscent of Dhoni’s iconic look.

Chasing a target of 140, the Royals delivered a clinical performance, reaching 141/2 in just 18.3 overs. Bhandari anchored the chase with a composed 58* off 55 balls, supported by opener Saif Zaib, who scored a brisk 32, and captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who contributed an unbeaten 20.

Earlier, Janakpur Bolts opted to bat first but struggled to build momentum, managing 139/9 in their 20 overs. Jimmy Neesham was the standout performer for Janakpur, smashing an explosive 45 off 23 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered. Sudurpaschim’s bowling attack, led by Airee (3/29) and Zaib (2/20), effectively restricted Janakpur despite some resistance from Neesham.

Janakpur skipper Anil Sah, who sustained a wrist injury, was ruled out of the match, dealing a significant blow to the Bolts. Aasif Sheikh captained the team in Sah’s absence.

This defeat marked Janakpur’s second loss to Sudurpaschim in the tournament. However, they still have a chance to reach the final by winning Qualifier 2, where they could face the Royals again for a shot at redemption.

Sudurpaschim’s chase was methodical, with Zaib providing a quick start and Bhandari ensuring stability until the end, striking three boundaries and three sixes to seal the victory in style.

Karnali eliminates Chitwan

In the first match on Wednesday, Karnali Yaks secured a 21-run victory over Chitwan Rhinos in the Eliminator. Chadwick Walton’s explosive unbeaten 46 off 23 balls earned him the Player of the Match award, propelling Karnali to a competitive total of 175/6. Jaykishan Kolsawala (53 off 39) and William Bosisto (52 off 39) also contributed crucial half-centuries, while Sohail Tanvir’s 2/24 stood out in an otherwise expensive bowling performance for Chitwan.

Chasing 176, Chitwan Rhinos fell short at 154/9 despite Ravi Bopara’s valiant 53 off 34 balls. Karnali’s bowlers, led by Zeeshan Maqsood (3/26) and Sompal Kami (2/22), ensured their team stayed ahead in a high-pressure encounter.

Karnali captain Sompal Kami expressed optimism about his team’s prospects. “I envisioned reaching the final from the start, but there were fears of disqualification too. It’s the bowlers who brought us this far,” Kami said. He also credited the decision to bring in India’s Kolsawala after the league stage. “We weren’t getting the starts we needed, so we brought in Kolsawala, who played his role brilliantly.”

Chitwan coach Umesh Patwal praised the NPL’s inaugural season for its impact on Nepali cricket. “This is just the beginning. With Star Sports broadcasting the tournament, the attention it has received is phenomenal. A tournament like this will change cricket in Nepal. If the exposure continues, Nepal could become a Test nation,” Patwal said.

Karnali will face Janakpur in Qualifier 2, with a chance to advance to the final. However, Janakpur holds the psychological advantage, having comfortably defeated Karnali during the league stage, winning by eight wickets with 29 balls to spare. The Yaks, buoyed by their recent performance, will look to capitalize on Janakpur’s lack of form to book their place in the final.