By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 29, 2025 13:26 PM • 47 views
KIRTIPUR: The Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground witnessed a contest of contrasting fortunes on Saturday as the high-flying Sudur Paschim Royals were pushed to their limits by a desperate Janakpur Bolts side in the 18th match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025-26. In a game that pitted the tournament's only unbeaten team against the winless Bolts, the narrative followed the script of a gritty, low-scoring thriller. Chasing a competitive target of 146, the Royals relied on a match-defining partnership between Ishan Pandey and Binod Bhandari to offset a shaky start, keeping their perfect record in sight while Janakpur fought tooth and nail to keep their campaign alive.
Bolts' Batting Woes Continue Despite Krishnamurthy's Heroics
Janakpur Bolts, led by new captain Wayne Parnell—who replaced Anil Shah in a bid to change the team's fortunes—won the toss and elected to bat. However, their recurring nightmare of top-order collapses resurfaced immediately. Star opener Aasif Sheikh was castled for a duck in the very first over by Scott Kuggeleijn, setting a jittery tone for the innings.
The Bolts were reeling early, but the middle order finally showed some spine. Sanjay Krishnamurthy played a knock of sheer resilience, top-scoring with a composed 50. He found an able ally in Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who contributed a valuable 39. Together, they stitched a crucial partnership that rescued Janakpur from a precarious position, dragging the team to a respectable total of 145/8 in their 20 overs. While the total gave their bowlers something to defend, it was clear that Janakpur had left 15-20 runs on the field.
Royals' Chase: A Test of Nerves
Defending 145, Janakpur needed early wickets, and they got them. Maaz Sadaqat provided a dream start, removing the dangerous Josh Brown for a duck in the first over. When Chris Lynn fell cheaply shortly after, the Royals were in a spot of bother at 29/2 inside the powerplay, and an upset briefly seemed on the cards.
However, the Royals displayed the depth that has made them the team to beat this season. Wicketkeeper-batter Binod Bhandari (42) and the aggressive Ishan Pandey joined forces to stabilise the chase. The duo absorbed the pressure before shifting gears, constructing a match-winning 82-run stand that took the game away from Janakpur. Pandey was particularly impressive, blazing his way to a half-century (56 off 35 balls) with a mix of calculated risks and power hitting.
The Final Twist
Just as the Royals seemed to be cruising, Janakpur struck back. The dismissal of Bhandari in the 14th over, followed by the wicket of the set Pandey (caught by Mayan Yadav off Aaditya Mahata) in the 16th over, injected late drama into the contest. With the scoreboard reading 116/4 after 16 overs, the Royals still required 30 runs from the final 24 balls—a manageable equation in T20 cricket, but one that demands calm heads. With experienced skipper Dipendra Singh Airee and Harmeet Singh at the crease, the Royals held the advantage, but Janakpur's spirited bowling performance ensured the league leaders didn't walk away with an easy victory.
