Janakpur Bolts Beat Pokhara Avengers by 9 Runs in Thrilling NPL Clash

Janakpur Bolts secured an impressive nine-run victory over Pokhara Avengers in Match 9 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 3 on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Despite a determined effort from Pokhara Avengers, Janakpur successfully defended their total of 147 runs, restricting their opponents to 138/9 in 20 overs.

The closely contested encounter saw both teams fight hard throughout the match, but Janakpur Bolts displayed better composure in the crucial moments to secure two valuable points in the tournament. Trit Raj Das played a key role with the bat, scoring an impressive 61 runs, while Moeen Ali delivered an outstanding bowling performance to help Janakpur seal the victory.

Match Summary: Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers

The ninth match of NPL Season 3 featured Janakpur Bolts and Pokhara Avengers, with both sides entering the contest looking for an important victory.

Pokhara Avengers won the toss and elected to field first, giving Janakpur Bolts the opportunity to set a target. Janakpur managed to post 147 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Pokhara Avengers struggled to maintain the required scoring rate despite a few useful contributions from their batters. They finished their innings at 138/9, falling nine runs short of the target.

Match Details

Trit Raj Das Leads Janakpur Bolts with the Bat

After being asked to bat first, Janakpur Bolts needed a competitive total to put pressure on Pokhara Avengers. Trit Raj Das delivered an important innings, scoring 61 runs from 55 deliveries.

His innings included seven boundaries and two sixes, providing stability to the Janakpur batting lineup. He played a crucial role in helping his team build a respectable total despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Moeen Ali also contributed with 21 runs from 16 balls, hitting three fours and one six. Towards the end of the innings, Abhisekh Tiwari provided an important boost by scoring an unbeaten 24 runs from just 10 deliveries, including one four and two sixes.

James Neesham added 11 runs, while Anil Sah and Harmeet Singh contributed nine runs each. Amar Routela remained unbeaten on two runs as Janakpur Bolts finished their innings at 147/7 in 20 overs.

For Pokhara Avengers, Shakib Al Hasan was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for just 15 runs. Chamika Karunaratne also made an impact with two wickets, while Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin picked up one wicket each.

Pokhara Avengers Fall Short Despite Kushal Bhurtel's Contribution

Chasing a target of 148 runs, Pokhara Avengers needed a strong batting performance to secure their first victory of the season. However, Janakpur's bowlers consistently applied pressure and prevented Pokhara from building the partnerships required to complete the chase.

Kushal Bhurtel was among the leading contributors for Pokhara Avengers, scoring 35 runs from 24 deliveries with five boundaries. His innings provided a promising start to the chase, but the team could not maintain the momentum.

Bipin Acharya added 20 runs from 19 balls, while Bipin Khatri remained unbeaten on 17 runs from 14 deliveries. Kiran Thagunna also produced a quick contribution, scoring 15 runs from just five balls, including two fours and one six.

However, regular wickets made the chase increasingly difficult for Pokhara. Shakib Al Hasan managed nine runs, while other batters struggled to make significant contributions against Janakpur's bowling attack.

Despite their efforts, Pokhara Avengers could only manage 138/9 in their 20 overs, finishing nine runs short of the target.

Moeen Ali's Three-Wicket Haul Secures Victory for Janakpur

Janakpur Bolts' bowling performance played a decisive role in the result. Moeen Ali was particularly impressive, claiming three wickets for just 13 runs and putting Pokhara Avengers under pressure during their chase.

Harmeet Singh also delivered an important spell, taking two wickets for 20 runs. Saif Hassan picked up two wickets, while James Neesham and Lalit Rajbanshi contributed one wicket each.

The combined bowling effort helped Janakpur restrict Pokhara to 138/9 and successfully defend their total.

Full Scorecard: Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers

Janakpur Bolts – 147/7 (20 Overs)

Pokhara Avengers Bowling:

• Shakib Al Hasan: 3/15

• Chamika Karunaratne: 2/23

• Mahedi Hasan: 1/24

• Mohammad Saifuddin: 1/17

Pokhara Avengers – 138/9 (20 Overs)

Janakpur Bolts Bowling:

• Moeen Ali: 3/13

• Harmeet Singh: 2/20

• Saif Hassan: 2/36

• James Neesham: 1/16

• Lalit Rajbanshi: 1/26

Janakpur Bolts Gain Momentum in NPL Season 3

The victory against Pokhara Avengers is another positive result for Janakpur Bolts in the ongoing Nepal Premier League. After suffering a defeat in their opening match, Janakpur had bounced back with a convincing victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas.

Their latest win further strengthens their campaign and demonstrates the team's ability to perform under pressure. The contributions from both the batting and bowling departments will provide confidence as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.

For Pokhara Avengers, the defeat is a disappointing result as they continue their search for their first win of the season. Although individual players showed promising performances, the team will need to improve its batting consistency and build stronger partnerships in the upcoming matches.

With several matches still remaining in the league stage, both teams will be looking to improve their performances and strengthen their positions in the NPL Season 3 standings.