Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Defending champions Lumbini Lions continued their unbeaten run in the Nepal Premier League with a 16-run victory over Janakpur Bolts at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Kathmandu, on Thursday.
Batting first in Match No. 14, Lumbini Lions scored 149 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Chasing 150, the Bolts could make only 133 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
The win cemented Lumbini’s position at the top of the standings, while Bolts are fourth with four points from five matches.
Although Lumbini lost opener D’Arcy Short for a golden duck, Aasif Sheikh (21) and Niroshan Dickwella (27) added 43 runs for the second wicket. Captain Rohit Paudel played a fine knock of 34 off 30 balls. Dilip Nath made 25 from 16, while Ruben Trumpelmann (15), Shamin Hssain (13) and Sundeep Jora (9) scored valuable runs to take Lumbini’s score close to 150 runs.
Bishal Shusling and Rahul Yadav picked up two wickets each for Janakpur, while Lalit Rajbanshi, Harmeet Singh and Abhishekh Tiwari each claimed a wicket.
Janakpur also lost opener Parvez Hossain Emon (1) cheaply in the chase of 150. Trit Raj Das scored run-a-ball 18 and Saif Hassan made 28 off 25 balls to steady Janakpur’s innings. However, the required run rate started to climb as Janakpur lost wickets at quick intervals. Bishal Shusling made four, Anil Sah fell for one, James Neesham scored nine and Abhishek Tiwari was out for a duck. Captain Harmeet Singh (33) and Aaditya Mahata (30*) gave some hope to the 2024 champions, but their hope faded with the dismissal of Captain Singh in the 18th over.
D’Arcy Short claimed three wickets for Lumbini, while Tilak Bhandari and Sher Malla picked up two each, and Trumpelmann chipped in with a wicket.
