Janakpur eyes second consecutive win

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 began with an exciting showdown as Janakpur Bolts dominated Biratnagar Kings, claiming an eight-wicket victory at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Saturday. Janakpur’s disciplined bowling and stellar batting performance marked a strong start to the season.  

After being put to bat by Janakpur, Biratnagar Kings were bundled out for 127 runs in 19 overs. Martin Guptill was the lone warrior for Biratnagar, scoring 55 runs off 43 balls, including seven fours and one six. However, he lacked substantial support from his teammates as Janakpur’s bowlers dominated.

Lalit Rajbanshi was the pick of the bowlers for Janakpur, delivering a remarkable spell of 3/28 in his four overs. Harsh Thaker also made a significant impact with figures of 3/22, while Kishore Mahato and Mohammad Mohsin picked up two and one wickets respectively. Biratnagar’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with no other batsman managing to cross 15 runs apart from Guptill.  

Chasing 128 for victory, Janakpur faced a brief scare, losing openers Aasif Sheikh (0) and Anil Sah (5) early in the innings. However, Lahiru Milantha anchored the innings with a stunning unbeaten 75 off 53 balls, decorated with nine fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Thaker, who scored a steady 29 not out off 33 deliveries.  

The duo’s partnership ensured Janakpur reached the target comfortably in just 15.3 overs, with 27 balls remaining. 

Milantha’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match award, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season for Janakpur Bolts.

Guptill has stated that batting at the TU Ground is not easy. He explained, “It was difficult to take wickets. It wasn’t easy to bat at first.” Guptill expressed confidence that Biratnagar will improve its performance in the upcoming match. “We didn’t do well in the first match, but we’ll come back stronger in the second match,” he said.

He also mentioned that he had ‘enjoyed’ playing cricket in Nepal. “The people of Nepal are very welcoming. I’m very happy to play in front of thousands of spectators in the first match here. I’ve learned that Nepalis love cricket,” he added. “I didn’t know much about Nepali cricket before, but I’ve learned a lot after today’s match.”

Janakpur is eyeing its second consecutive win as they prepare for their next match on Monday. The NPL action continues with exciting fixtures on the same day, including Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Chitwan Rhinos at 9:15 am, followed by Janakpur Bolts vs Karnali Yaks at 1:15 pm. All the matches throughout the league are set to take place at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

The league will culminate with the playoffs, starting with the Eliminator on Dec 18, followed by Qualifiers on Dec 18 and 19. The grand finale is scheduled for Dec 21.  

Besides the match summary, there was a lot to discuss about the event’s organization. The management team needs to step up their performance, as there were significant issues with crowd control and coordination. Many accredited journalists were unable to enter the venue because their press cards had not been printed by the organizing side. Additionally, spectators who had purchased tickets faced difficulties in accessing the gates. Some, despite having valid tickets, were forced to turn back without being able to watch the game.

Frustrated spectators in line expressed their anger, saying they endured significant hardship after purchasing tickets.

The CAN had sold 10,000 tickets for Saturday’s game online, with tickets available three days in advance. However, despite purchasing tickets online, spectators were still required to stand in long queues to exchange them for physical tickets, adding to the inconvenience.

There were repeated clashes between the police and spectators outside the stadium. As spectators with tickets rushed to enter, some were injured when they were crushed by the crowd. Attempts to force entry through the gates led to further conflict, with the police intervening to control the situation. Unfortunately, several spectators were injured, and five spectators along with two policemen were reported to have sustained injuries during the chaos.