Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Janakpur Bolts booked its spot in the playoffs, consigning Kathmandu Gurkhas to a five-wicket defeat in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Thursday.
Batting first, Kathmandu Gurkhas folded for 101 runs in 19.3 overs. In reply, Janakpur Royals scored 104 for the loss of five wickets in 15.5 overs.
This is Kathmandu Gurkhas’ third loss in five matches, while Janakpur returned to winning ways, after a loss against Sudurpashchim Royals on Wednesday, to register its fifth win in six matches.
Batting first, Kathmandu Gurkhas’ batters struggled as only three managed to get to double digits. Gerhard Erasmus top-scored for the side with a 22-ball 20, while Captain Karan KC scored 19 and Stephen Eskinazi contributed 17 runs. Other Kathmandu batters failed to reach double digits.
Janakpur’s Lalit Rajbanshi took three wickets, conceding just eight runs in his four-over spell to restrict Kathmandu to a low total. Sher Malla also claimed three wickets for Janakpur, while Mohammad Mohsin took two, and Mishor Mahato and Arnikoy Yadav had a wicket each.
Janakpur batters also struggled despite chasing a low score. Opener Aasif Sheikh was out for two, while Shubh Kansakar scored five. James Neeshame scored 27 off 17, while Harsh Thaker scored an unbeaten 25 off 25 balls to script Janakpur’s fifth win in six matches. Lahiru Milantha scored 16, while Mohammad Mohsin scored a not-out 13 and Captain Anil Sah contributed 11.
Karan KC took two wickets for Kathmandu, while Shahab Alam, Gerhard Erasmus and Dipesh Kandel claimed a wicket each.
Lumbini Lions takes on Karnali Yaks in the first match on Friday, while Biratnagar Kings meets Chitwan Rhinos in the second match.
