From Champions to Wooden Spoon: Janakpur Bolts End Nightmare Season with Heartbreaking Loss to Karnali yaks
In a dramatic conclusion to the league stage of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 2, the defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, have officially finished rock bottom. Their dismal title defence ended in heartbreak on Sunday at the TU International Cricket Stadium, as they fell just three runs short against the Karnali Yaks in a low-scoring thriller.
It was a fixture dubbed the battle for the "wooden spoon," with both sides sitting on five losses from six games. Ultimately, the Karnali Yaks held their nerve in the death overs to salvage some pride, condemning the Bolts to their sixth defeat of the campaign.
**A Tussle of Attrition**
Janakpur skipper Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially paid dividends. The Bolts' bowling unit was disciplined, choking the Yaks' scoring rate and restricting them to a modest 129-9.
For Karnali, 20-year-old debutant Imran Sheikh provided the only real spark at the top of the order, top-scoring with a run-a-ball 33. While the rest of the middle order—including Priyank Panchal (16), Gulshan Jha (19), and Sompal Kami (18)—got into double figures, none could convert their starts into a match-defining innings.
Janakpur's bowling was led by the frugal Sangeeth Cooray. The Sri Lankan all-rounder was exceptional, conceding just 12 runs in his four-over spell while picking up a wicket. Lalit Rajbanshi and Aaditya Mahata chipped in with two wickets apiece, keeping the target seemingly within reach.
**The Collapse and The Fightback**
Chasing 130 should have been routine for a batting lineup of Janakpur's calibre, but the pressure of a losing season weighed heavily. The top order capitulated spectacularly, reduced to a tottering 29-4 inside seven overs. Key batters Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah were both dismissed for ducks, leaving the champions staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat.
However, Sangeeth Cooray (25 off 32) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi refused to go down without a fight. The pair stitched together a gritty 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket, dragging the Bolts back into the contest. Krishnamurthi was particularly impressive, compiling a fighting half-century (51 off 39 balls) that took the game deep.
**The Final Over Drama**
The equation boiled down to 14 runs needed off the final over. However, the dismissal of set-batter Krishnamurthi on the very first ball of the over drove a dagger through Janakpur's hopes. Despite a desperate effort from skipper Loftie-Eaton, the disciplined death bowling of Sompal Kami, executed with accurate yorkers, denied the Bolts. They finished stranded on 126-7.
**The 'Bolts Army' Remains Loyal**
Despite the on-field capitulation, the story of the day was off the field. The "Bolts Army"—the franchise's loyal fan base—turned up in droves, creating a sea of pink in the stands despite the match being a dead rubber.
The relationship between the team and fans has been the silver lining of a dark season. Notably, the only match the Bolts won this season (against Chitwan Rhinos) was the one in which the banner was absent. On Sunday, even after the final ball confirmed their last-place finish, the fans stayed back.
In a touching post-match scene, the players lined up to applaud the stands, and the Army roared back in support, proving their loyalty survives even the toughest of seasons.
**What's Next**
With the league stage now concluded, the NPL takes a rest day on Monday. The action resumes on Tuesday with high stakes as the top two teams, Sudurpaschim Royals and Biratnagar Kings, face off in Qualifier 1 for a direct spot in the final.
