Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Janakpur Bolts earned their first win of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026, with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Kathmandu Gorkhas on Thursday.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss in Match No. 5 at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Kathmandu folded for a paltry 115 runs in 19.3 overs. In reply, Janakpur made 116 for the loss of two wickets in 17.2 overs.
Janakpur suffered a 19-run defeat against Karnali Yaks in their first match.
Kathmandu made a disastrous start with the bat, losing opender Sam Heazlett (1) in the first ball of the second over. Fellow opener Smit Patel made a run-a-ball 13, while Harishankar Shah scored nine. Rashid Khan (17) and Bhim Sharki (33) steadied the innings, but other batters failed to contribute. Sumit Maharjan made 10, Rupin Mondol contributed nine and Captain Karan KC chipped in with eight runs.
Janakpur’s teenage sensation Rahul Yadav took four wickets, while Saif Hassan picked up two, and Moeen Ali, Harmeet Singh and Lalit Rajbanshi each had a wicket to their names.
Although Janakpur lost opener Trit Raj Das (5) cheaply in the chase of a low total, fellow opener Moeen Ali remained not out at 58 off 51 balls. Saif Hassan made an unbeaten 40 and Mayan Yadav chipped in with nine runs.
Ripon Yadav took the only wicket for Kathmandu.
Biratnagar Kings face Karnali Yaks in the day’s second match at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
