KIRTIPUR, November 1, 2026: Janakpur Bolts secured their second victory of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 with a nine-run win over Pokhara Avengers at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Sunday.
After being asked to bat first, Janakpur posted 147/7 in 20 overs. Pokhara Avengers fought hard in the chase but finished on 138/9, falling nine runs short of the 148-run target.
Trit Raj Das Anchors Janakpur's Innings
Opener Trit Raj Das led Janakpur's batting effort with a composed 61 off 55 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes.
Moeen Ali contributed 21 off 16 balls, while Jimmy Neesham added 11 runs. Janakpur reached 100 in 15.2 overs before Abhishek Tiwari provided a late boost with an unbeaten 24 off just 10 deliveries, hitting two sixes to help the Bolts finish at 147/7.
For Pokhara, Shakib Al Hasan was the leading wicket-taker with 3/15, dismissing Moeen, Saif Hassan and Janakpur captain Harmeet Singh. Chamika Karunaratne claimed two wickets, while Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin picked up one each.
Moeen Ali and Jimmy Neesham Seal the Victory
Chasing 148, Pokhara Avengers relied on captain Kushal Bhurtel, who scored 35 off 24 balls. However, regular wickets prevented the Avengers from building a strong partnership.
Moeen Ali made a major impact with the ball, taking 3/13 to put Janakpur in control of the chase. Pokhara reached 131/8 after 19 overs, needing 17 runs from the final six deliveries. Jimmy Neesham was handed the responsibility of bowling the last over and conceded only seven runs, allowing Janakpur to complete a nine-run victory.
Second Win for Janakpur, Second Defeat for Pokhara
The result gave Janakpur Bolts their second win of the 2026 season. After losing their opening match against Karnali Yaks by 19 runs, Janakpur bounced back with an eight-wicket victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas before overcoming Pokhara.
Pokhara Avengers, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat. They had lost their opening match against Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets and are still searching for their first win of the tournament.
Upcoming Fixtures
Janakpur Bolts will face Biratnagar Kings on Tuesday, November 3, at 12:30 pm NPT. Pokhara Avengers are scheduled to take on Lumbini Lions later the same day at 5:00 pm NPT.