Sudurpaschim Royals maintained their commanding position at the top of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) table today, securing another victory against a struggling Janakpur Bolts side. The Bolts, under the new leadership of Wayne Parnell, managed to post a fighting total but ultimately fell short against the Royals’ chase led by a solid batting performance.
Janakpur Innings: Krishnamurthi’s Half-Century Provides Stability
Winning the toss and electing to bat first in the second match of the day at the TU International Cricket Ground, Janakpur Bolts got off to a difficult start. Pacers Scott Kuggeleijn and Abinash Bohara struck early, removing both openers cheaply and putting the Bolts in a precarious position.
However, a superb recovery effort was mounted by American batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who rescued the innings with a composed 50 off 38 balls. He partnered effectively with Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (39 off 33 balls) to stabilize the innings. Janakpur managed to accelerate in the latter half, posting a competitive target of 146 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The Royals’ bowling unit was exceptional, with Abinash Bohara being the standout performer, grabbing 4 wickets for 30 runs. Scott Kuggeleijn provided crucial early breakthroughs, finishing with 3 wickets.
Royals’ Chase: Comfortable Win Propels Sudurpaschim to Playoffs
Chasing 146, Sudurpaschim Royals started cautiously, losing an early wicket. However, the in-form pair of Binod Bhandari and Ishan Pandey consolidated the innings, stitching together a match-winning partnership. Bhandari and Pandey rotated the strike well and hit boundaries when needed, bringing the Royals into a commanding position.
The Royals successfully chased the target with several overs to spare, securing an important victory that all but guarantees their spot in the NPL playoffs. The loss marks the Bolts’ fourth consecutive defeat, leaving the defending champions languishing at the bottom of the table and desperate for a win to revive their campaign.
The unbeaten run of Sudurpaschim Royals continues to be the story of the tournament, while Janakpur Bolts face a significant uphill battle to turn their season around.
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