Karnali Yaks edge defending champions Janakpur bolts by 3 runs (photos)

KATHMANDU: Janakpur Bolts’ Nepal Premier League (NPL) campaign ended in disappointment as defending champions fell to a narrow 3-run defeat against Karnali Yaks in the final league-stage match on Sunday.

After losing the toss, Karnali batted first at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, posting 129 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

In response, Janakpur managed 126 for 7, narrowly missing out on the target.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s brilliant innings had set up a tense finish, leaving Janakpur needing 14 runs in the final over.

The game reached a nail-biting stage, with 9 runs required off the last two balls.

Captain Jan Loftie-Eaton struck a four on the fifth ball, but only managed a single on the final delivery.

Attempting a second run, his partner Aditya Mehta was run out, sealing Janakpur’s fate.

Janakpur’s key players, marquee signing Aasif Sheikh and captain Anil Sah, were dismissed for ducks, while openers Maaz Sadaqat and Mayan Yadav made 12 and 9 runs respectively.

Krishnamurthi and Sangeeth Cooray stitched a crucial 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket, reviving Janakpur’s innings.

Cooray scored 25 off 32 balls, hitting 1 four, while Krishnamurthi smashed 51 off 39 balls, including 1 four and 4 sixes.

Loftie-Eaton remained unbeaten on 13.

For Karnali, Will Bosisto took 2 wickets and was named Player of the Match for his 4-over spell conceding just 18 runs.

Mark Watt took 1 wicket for 9 runs in 4 overs, including a maiden, while Pawan Sarraf, Nandan Yadav, and captain Sompal Kami claimed a wicket each.

Both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention prior to this match. Janakpur’s defeat marked their sixth loss in seven games, leaving them in eighth place.

Karnali, who had finished third last season, ended sixth after surpassing Chitwan Rhinos on net run rate, registering 2 wins and 5 losses in seven matches.

Earlier, Karnali’s opener Imran Sheikh top-scored with 33 runs off 32 balls, including 1 four and 1 six, while his opening partner Watt was dismissed for 4.

Priyak Panchal made 16 off 18 balls with 3 fours, and Gulshan Jha added 19 runs off 20 balls. Other contributors included Bosisto (15), Najibullah Jadran (13), Sarraf (1), Arjun Gharti (4), and unbeaten Sompal Kami (18 off 11 balls, including 1 four and 1 six). Deependra Rawat added 2 runs.

Janakpur’s bowling was led by Lalit Rajbanshi and Aditya Mehta, who took 2 wickets each.

Rajbanshi conceded 16 runs in 3 overs, while Mehta gave away 9 runs in his only over.

Cooray, Anil Sah, and Sadaqat claimed 1 wicket apiece.

Janakpur Bolts:

Karnali Yaks:

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