By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 17, 2025 15:45 PM • 22 views
Kathmandu, Nepal – The 2nd edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicked off with a stunning upset on Monday as the Kathmandu Gorkhaz delivered a polished performance to defeat the reigning champions, the Janakpur Bolts, by five wickets. In a match that signalled the Gorkhaz's serious title intentions, they successfully chased down a target of 131 runs, crossing the finish line with two overs to spare at the TU Cricket Ground.
Openers Lay the Foundation for Gorkha
The foundation of the victory was firmly established by a blistering opening partnership between Akash Tripathi and Ben Charlesworth. The duo launched an aggressive assault on the Janakpur bowlers during the Powerplay, racing to 55 runs without loss. Their momentum carried through, culminating in a decisive 70-run stand that effectively broke the back of the chase. It took the Bolts until the ninth over to find a breakthrough, when Jan Nicol Lofie-Eaton managed to dismiss Charlesworth with a sharp caught-and-bowled. Charlesworth, who was in sublime touch, narrowly missed a half-century, hammering a rapid 46 runs off just 23 balls, an innings studded with five fours and two sixes. The Gorkhaz experienced a minor wobble shortly after, losing Akash Chand for just 3 runs to Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi. The third wicket fell when Sanjay Krishnamoorthy removed Tripathi in the 16th over. Tripathi anchored the innings superbly with 39 runs before his departure. A few quick wickets—including Milind Kumar (19) and John Simpson (13)—kept the contest briefly alive, but the Gorkhaz sealed the win comfortably in the 18th over. For the Bolts, the wickets were shared among the bowlers, with Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Anil Shah, Jan Nicol Lofie-Eaton, and Sanjay Krishnamoorthy all claiming a single scalp.
Bolts' Batting Falters Despite Sheikh's Fifty
Earlier in the day, after Gorkhaz captain Karan KC won the toss and elected to field, the Janakpur Bolts were restricted to a modest 130 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. The Bolts' innings got off to a quick but precarious start. Openers Aasif Sheikh and Lahiru Milantha put up 32 runs in the first three overs before the Gorkhaz bowlers tightened the screws. A flurry of quick wickets, notably a double strike in the fifth over by Milind Kumar, derailed their momentum. Kumar first dismissed Milantha (7) and then caught out skipper Anil Shah for a duck on the very next delivery, leaving the champions reeling. When Jan Nicol Lofie-Eaton was bowled for 2 runs, the Bolts were precariously placed at 42 for 3. Opener Aasif Sheikh played a lone hand, compiling a hard-fought half-century off 37 balls, eventually scoring 54 runs, including six fours and a six. His dismissal at the 14th over mark, with the score only on 78, exposed the tail. A late surge by Mayank Yadav, who remained unbeaten on 34, offered some respectability to the total. The bowling performance by the Gorkhaz was spearheaded by the Man of the Match, Milind Kumar, who delivered an exceptional spell of 3 wickets for only 15 runs from his four overs. Karan KC, Shahab Alam, and Santosh Yadav chipped in with one wicket each.
!
The Grand Opening
The tournament was formally inaugurated earlier today by former Prime Minister Sushila Karki. This edition of the NPL will feature eight franchise teams competing over 27 days in a total of 32 matches, culminating in the Grand Final on December 13th. The league promises high stakes, with the prize money remaining consistent with the first edition: the champions will pocket NPR 1.10 Crore, the runner-up NPR 51 Lakh, and the third-place team NPR 15 Lakh. Notably, today's match was the first-ever fixture to be played under floodlights at the TU Cricket Ground, adding a spectacular dimension to the opening day.
Upcoming Matches:
Two games are scheduled for tomorrow:
Chitwan Rhinos vs. Karnali Yaks (Morning)
Biratnagar Kings vs. Sudurpaschim Royals (Evening)
