Janakpur Bolts becomes NPL Champion

By Pramod Kumar Tandan, Kathmandu, Dec 21: Janakpur Bolts won the first Nepal Premier League (NPL) Title beating Sudur Paschim Royals by 5 wickets in the final match on Saturday at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.

Janakpur achieved a target of 185 runs given by Sudur Paschim Royals in 19.2 overs in a loss of 5 wickets. 

To make their team NPL champion Janakpur's Lahiru Milantha hit a half-century scoring 87 runs, Aasif Sheikh scored 33 runs, Harsh Thaker 30, Mohammad Mohsin 9, James Neesham 4 runs, Aakash Tripathi and Mayan Yadav scored 2 runs each. 

Sudur Paschim's Scott Kuggeleijn, Ishan Pandey, Dipendra Singh Airee and Saif Zaib took a single wicket each. 

Earlier, Sudur Paschim managed a total of 184 in the stipulated 20 overs in 9 wickets. 

Sudur Paschim's Saif Zaib hit a half-century making 69 runs. Binod Bhandari hit 41, Brandon McMullen and Harmeet Singh scored 14 runs each, Scott Kuggeleijn 13, Dipendra Singh Airee 9, Naresh Budayair 8, Ishan Pandey 6 and Naren Saud scored 1 run. 

Janakpur's Kishore Mahato and Mohammad Mohsin took three wickets each. James Neesham and Lalit Rajbanshi took a single wicket each.