Janakpur break duck, Rossington shines for Pokhara

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 3: Defending champions Janakpur Bolts finally opened their account in the second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a six‑wicket win over Chitwan Rhinos.

Meanwhile, Adam Rossington etched his name into the record books as the third batter to score a century in NPL history. 

His ton powered Pokhara Avengers to their second victory, a 34‑run triumph over Karnali Yaks in Kirtipur on Tuesday.

Janakpur halt losing streak

After four defeats on the trot, Janakpur finally put the brakes on their losing run in the fifth match. The victory, however, dealt a blow to Chitwan’s playoff chances. 

With only four points from five outings, fifth-placed Chitwan now not only need to win their remaining two fixtures but also depend on other results to sneak into the play-offs.

Janakpur chased down the 177-run target with ease, reaching 180/4 in 17.3 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Maz Sadaqat and Anil Sah.

Opener Sadaqat blazed away to 63 off just 30 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and four towering sixes. 

After fellow opener Aasif Sheikh fell for 18 in the sixth over, the Pakistani batter stitched together a 79-run stand with Sah for the second wicket. 

Sah was equally aggressive, smashing four boundaries and three maximums in his brisk 36-ball 61.

Jon Nicol Loftie-Eaton chipped in with 11 off nine balls, while Aaditya Mahato and Sanjay Krishnamurthi added an unbeaten 24-run partnership for the fifth wicket to see Janakpur home. 

Mahato finished unbeaten on 18 from seven deliveries, striking two fours and a six, while Krishnamurthi remained not out on 5.

For Chitwan, Sohail Ranvir, Kamal Airee and Amar Routela picked up a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Chitwan won the toss and opted to bat first, posting 176/4 as Janakpur’s bowling and fielding faltered. 

Dawid Malan and Arjun Saud gave them a flying start, putting on a century stand of 112 for the opening wicket. 

Malan was in imperious touch, cracking six boundaries and four sixes in his 54-ball 80. Saud supported well with a 39-ball 52, laced with four fours and three sixes.

Saif Zaib (7) and Ravi Bopara (3) failed to get going, while skipper Kushal Malla provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 30 off 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes. One of his big hits unfortunately struck a cheerleader on the nose, causing injury.

Rossington stars with bat

In the second match of the day, English batter Adam Rossington lit up the innings as Pokhara piled on 201/2 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat. Karnali, in reply, folded for 167 in 19 overs.

With their second win, Pokhara moved to four position with four points from five matches, keeping their play-off hopes alive.

Karnali, however, became a first team to be out of play-off contention as they slumped to their fifth defeat in six outings, with only one game left to play.

Pokhara’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Dhananjaya Lakshan and Rishi Dhawan, who bagged three wickets apiece. Kiran Thagunna, Sandeep Chettri and Kushal Bhurtel chipped in with one wicket each. 

For Karnali, Mark Watt top-scored with a blazing 59 off 34 balls, striking four boundaries and five sixes. Najibullah Zadran (24), Pawan Sarraf (19), Priyank Panchal (16), skipper Sompal Kami (13) and Dipendra Rawat (10) all managed double figures but failed to convert.

Earlier, Rossington starred with his bat, smashing an unbeaten 108 from 58 deliveries, decorated with 11 fours and seven towering sixes. He became second batter to complete century this season and third batter overall in NPL history. 

Previously, Karnali’s overseas player Mark Watt was the only batter to notch up a century in the ongoing tournament. Against Lumbini, Watt struck an unbeaten 114, reaching his hundred in just 41 balls.

In the inaugural edition of the competition, Pokhara Avengers’ Andreas Gous registered a century. Last year, Gous hammered 104 against Lumbini, bringing up his ton off 54 deliveries.

After losing captain Kushal Bhurtel (18) in the fifth over, Rossington joined forces with fellow Englishman Jason Roy to stitch a 127-run stand for the second wicket. 

Roy played his part with a brisk 46 off 34 balls, hitting two boundaries and three sixes before falling in the 17th over. Lakshan added late fireworks with an unbeaten 23 off 11 balls.

Looking ahead, the arrival of South African stalwart Faf du Plessis has boosted Biratnagar Kings, who aim to climb to second spot by beating Lumbini Lions in Wednesday’s sole NPL fixture. 

Biratnagar, with eight points from four wins and one defeat, currently sit third, edged out by Kathmandu Gorkhas on net run rate. Rohit Paudel’s Lumbini, on four points from five matches, will also be desperate for victory to stay in the play-off race.