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 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.

Karnali Yaks reached the second qualifier of Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 Cricket Tournament, defeating Chitwan Rhinos by 21 runs in the eliminator game played at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Wednesday.

With this win, Karnali will on Thursday play against the team losing in the first qualifier match which is taking place today itself, to secure a place in the final. Janakpur Bolts and Sudurpaschim Royals will be in fray in the first qualifier game. The team winning the first qualifier will enter the finals of the NPL.

Chasing a 176-run target posted by Karnali Yaks, Chitwan Rhinos were limited to 154 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets.

Ravi Bopara top scored 53 runs with the help of four sixes and three boundaries in 34 balls for Chitwan while captain Kushal Malla hit 21 runs and Bipin Rawal 18 runs, Luc Benkestein 16 runs and Sharad Bheswakar 10 runs. Except them, no other player could score in the double digits for Chitwan.

Towards bowling, Zeeshan Maqsood took three wickets while Sompal Kami and Nandan Yadav took two wickets each while Bipin Sharma took one wicket for Karnali Yaks.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Karnali Yaks scored 175 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets. Jaykishan Kolsawala scored the highest 53 runs with the help of six fours and two sixes in 39 balls for Karnali. Similarly, William Bosisto made 52 runs, Chadwick Walton undefeated 46 runs and Zeeshan Maqsood 14 runs for Karnali.

Sohail Tanvir took two wickets while Sharad Vesawkar, Kushal Malla and Ravi Bopara took one wicket each for Chitwan Rhinos.

Karnali Yaks had beaten Chitwan Rhinos in the league stage match before this also.

Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur will host two crucial matches in the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday. The Eliminator will feature Chitwan Rhinos against Karnali Yaks at 9:00 am, with both teams fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive. The loser will be eliminated from the competition.

Later in the day, the Qualifier 1 match will see the Sudurpaschim Royals face off against the Janakpur Bolts at 1:00 pm. The winner will secure a direct ticket to the final, while the loser will have another chance to qualify through the second qualifier. There are rumors that Janakpur skipper Anil Sah has sustained an injury and is likely to miss the remaining matches, which would be a significant blow to the team. According to sources, marquee player Aasif Sheikh is set to take over as captain. However, an official announcement is yet to be made.

The Chitwan Rhinos finished the league stage in third place, amassing eight points from seven matches. Their journey to the playoffs has been a mix of triumphs and setbacks. Chitwan started strong with back-to-back wins against Kathmandu Gurkhas on Dec 2, where they chased down the target with five wickets in hand and 17 balls to spare, and Pokhara Avengers on Dec 3, securing a massive 87-run victory. However, their momentum faltered with a narrow loss to Karnali Yaks on Dec 6, who chased down the target with one ball remaining.

The team rebounded with a convincing 33-run win over Sudurpaschim on Dec 8, but faced two consecutive defeats against Lumbini Lions (by 33 runs on Dec 10) and Biratnagar Kings (by 51 runs on Dec 13). They ended the league stage on a high note, defeating Janakpur Bolts by 32 runs on Dec 14, which secured their place in the playoffs.

Chitwan will now face the Karnali Yaks in the Eliminator, aiming to keep their championship hopes alive and secure a spot in Qualifier 2. This match also presents an opportunity for revenge, as Karnali had defeated them earlier in the league stage.

The Yaks finished the league stage in fourth place, earning eight points from seven matches. Despite a rocky start, Karnali showed remarkable resilience, winning four of their last five games to secure a playoff spot. Karnali began their campaign with two consecutive losses—against Janakpur on Dec 2 (by eight wickets with 29 balls remaining) and Kathmandu on Dec 4 (by three wickets with three balls to spare). However, they bounced back dramatically, defeating Chitwan on Dec 6 in a nail-biting match, chasing the target with one ball remaining.

Karnali’s winning streak continued with a seven-run victory over Biratnagar on Dec 7, a dominant seven-wicket win over Pokhara on Dec 10, and a thrilling five-run triumph against Lumbini on Dec 13. Their momentum was briefly halted in their final league match on Dec 16, where they lost to Sudurpaschim by six wickets, with 28 balls to spare. Had they won, Karnali would have secured second place, pushing Janakpur into the Eliminator and gaining the advantage of playing in Qualifier 1 instead.

The Qualifier 1 match between Sudurpaschim and Janakpur will determine which team advances to the final. Sudurpaschim finished the league stage in first place with 12 points from seven matches. With six wins and just one loss, the Royals showcased exceptional consistency and all-around performance. They began their campaign with a 90-run win over Biratnagar on Dec 3, followed by a 73-run victory over Kathmandu on Dec 5. After defeating Lumbini by 45 runs on Dec 7, they suffered their only loss on Dec 8, to Chitwan by 33 runs.

Sudurpaschim bounced back with a thumping 72-run win over Janakpur on Dec 11, a five-run victory over Pokhara on Dec 15, and a comprehensive six-wicket win over Karnali on Dec 16, chasing the target with 28 balls to spare. With their top-of-the-table finish, the Royals head directly into Qualifier 1, where they will face second-placed Janakpur for a chance to book their spot in the final.

The Janakpur Bolts, with 10 points from seven matches, have demonstrated resilience and firepower. They began their campaign with an eight-wicket win over Biratnagar on Nov 30, followed by another eight-wicket victory over Karnali on Dec 2. They then defeated Pokhara by seven wickets on Dec 5 and edged past Lumbini in a thrilling one-run victory on Dec 8. However, the Bolts stumbled against Sudurpaschim on Dec 11, suffering a heavy 72-run defeat. The Bolts quickly bounced back with a five-wicket win over Kathmandu on Dec 12, chasing the target with 25 balls to spare, but fell short against Chitwan in their final league match on Dec 14, losing by 32 runs.

Qualifier 1 will also provide Janakpur with a chance for revenge, as the Royals had previously humiliated the Bolts.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Tuesday also announced the prize for the NPL winner. The winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 11m, while the runner-up will receive Rs 5.1m. The third and fourth-placed teams will be awarded Rs 2.5m and Rs 1.5m, respectively.