Janakpur Bolts secured a thrilling one-run victory over Lumbini Lions in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Sunday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. With this win, Janakpur extended their winning streak to four consecutive matches and moved to the top of the league table with eight points, while Lumbini remained at the bottom with zero points, having lost all four of their matches.

Batting first, Janakpur posted a total of 136/9 in their 20 overs. Captain Anil Sah led the way with a steady knock of 45 runs from 39 balls, anchoring the innings as wickets fell around him. The middle-order collapsed after Sah’s departure, with Harsh Thaker (one off three balls), Jimmy Neesham (one off two balls), and others failing to contribute significantly. However, Shubh Kansakar remained unbeaten, scoring 22 runs off 24 balls to help the team reach a challenging total.

Lumbini Lions’ bowlers put up a strong fight, with Abhishesh Gautam leading the attack, claiming three wickets for 20 runs. Saad Bin Zafar and Rohit Paudel also took two wickets each. Despite the Bolts losing wickets in the middle overs, their total of 136 runs proved just enough to set a challenging target for the Lions.

Chasing a target of 137 runs, Lumbini got off to a solid start but were unable to maintain the momentum. Ashutosh Ghiraiya (eight off 14 balls) and Arjun Saud (20 off 23 balls) got their innings going, but both fell early. Rohit Paudel, the Lumbini captain, played a crucial knock of 35 runs off 38 balls, keeping his team in the hunt. Tom Moores contributed a quick-fire 31 runs off 23 balls, while Ben Cutting (three off seven balls) and Bibek Yadav (zero off two balls) couldn’t capitalize on their starts.

The Lions’ innings faltered under pressure as the required run rate climbed. Thaker, who had earlier made an impact with the bat, turned the game with a superb bowling performance, claiming five wickets for 23 runs, including key dismissals of Paudel, Moores, and Zafar. With the Lions needing nine runs off the final over, Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato held their nerve, restricting Lumbini to 135/8 in 20 overs, just one run short.

After the match, Sheikh, Janakpur’s marquee player, spoke about the team’s success, attributing their continued winning streak to the strong balance within the squad and the positive atmosphere both on and off the field. “The team atmosphere is great, and we play together as a unit. Everyone contributes in different ways, and that’s why we’ve been so successful,” Sheikh said. “We focus on one match at a time. We’re never in a comfortable position. We have to work even harder in the next match.”

In the second game on Sunday, Chitwan Rhinos triumphed over Sudurpaschim Royals by 33 runs. Chasing a target of 165, Sudurpaschim were restricted to 131/10 in 18.2 overs, handing Chitwan a comfortable victory. With this win, Chitwan halted Sudurpaschim’s three-match winning streak. Despite the loss, Sudurpaschim remained second on the league table, with Chitwan moving up to third, both with six points. However, Sudurpaschim holds a higher net run rate.

Chitwan, who were asked to bat first, posted a total of 164/5 in 20 overs. Hassan Eisakhil was the standout performer for Chitwan, scoring a match-winning 65 off 52 balls. He was well-supported by Ravi Bopara, who contributed 36 off 18 balls. Chitwan’s innings also saw valuable contributions from Bipin Rawal (17) and Kushal Malla (13).

In the bowling department, Rijan Dhakal and Malla were key figures, with Dhakal taking two wickets for 33 runs and Malla picking up two wickets for 18 runs. Sohail Tanvir also claimed a wicket for Chitwan.

Sudurpaschim’s chase got off to a rocky start, with their top order collapsing under pressure. Saif Zaib’s quick-fire 18 off 11 balls was the highlight of their innings, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Ishan Pandey fought valiantly, scoring 35 off 28 balls, but it was not enough to prevent their defeat.

Rhinos’ bowling attack was relentless, with Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ranjit Kumar, and Amar Routela each claiming wickets. Sudurpaschim were eventually bowled out for 131 in 18.2 overs, falling short by 33 runs.

There are no matches on Monday. On Tuesday, NPL will feature Chitwan Rhinos facing Lumbini Lions at 9 am, followed by Kathmandu Gurkhas taking on Pokhara Avengers at 1 pm. Lumbini will aim for their first win, while Chitwan will look to climb to second place on the points table. Meanwhile, Kathmandu and Pokhara will both seek their second win.