Janakpur Bolts clinches title of NPL first season
Kathmandu: Janakpur Bolts has clinched title of the first season of Nepal Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament.
In the final match held at Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground today, Janakpur Bolts won the title defeating Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets.
Janakpur Bolts chased the victory target of 185 runs posted by Sudurpaschim Royals in 19.2 overs at the loss of five wickets. Openers—Lahiru Milantha and Aasif Sheikh made the partnership of 73 runs for the victory. Milantha scored 87 runs in 49 balls with four sixes and nine fours while Aasif contributed 33 runs in 19 balls with four fours and two sixes.
Similarly, Harsh Thaker gathered 30 runs in 24 balls with two sixes and Mohammad Mohsin nine, James Neesham four, Aakash Tripathi and Mayan Yadav two runs each. For Sudurpaschim Royals, Saif Zaib, Ishan Pandey, Dipendra Singh Airee and Scott Kuggeleijn tok one wicket each.
Earlier, elected to bat first after winning the toss, Sudurpaschim Royals made 184 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets. Openers– Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari made the partnership of 117 runs. Saif Zaib scored 69 runs in 43 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Binod Bhandari 41 runs in 31 balls with one four and three sixes.
Similarly, Brandon McMullen and Harmeet Singh gathered 14 runs each while Scott Kuggeleijn 13 runs. Other batters could not make double digit runs. For Janakpur Bolts, Kishore Mahato and Mohammad Mohsin took three wickets each while James Neesham and Lalit Rajbanshi one wicket each.
The tittle winner team would receive Rs 11 million with trophy while runner-up team Rs 5.1 million, according to the Cricket Association of Nepal. Apart from this finalists, the third-place team would receive Rs 2.5 million while the fourth-place team, would get Rs 1.5 million.
