Chitwan Rhinos beat Janakpur Bolts by four wickets to climb into fourth place in the NPL playoff race. The result eliminated Janakpur, the inaugural Nepal Premier League champions, and also ended Karnali Yaks’ playoff hopes.
Janakpur missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season after finishing with two wins, five defeats and four points.
Chitwan vs Janakpur: Bowling Decides the Match
Janakpur chose to bat at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur but managed only 88/9 in 20 overs. Captain Harmeet Singh top-scored with 25, while Harry Tector and Jimmy Neesham both fell without scoring.
Chitwan’s decisive bowling figures were:
- Ranjit Kumar: 3 wickets for 2 runs in three overs, including one maiden.
- Sikandar Raza: 2 wickets for 10 runs in four overs, including two maidens.
- Kamil Misara: 2 wickets for 18 runs in three overs.
Ranjit’s spell deserves the headline: three wickets while conceding just two runs did more to shape this result than any batting contribution.
Chitwan reached the 89-run target in 17.2 overs with six wickets down. Dawid Malan led the chase with 35, supported by Kushal Malla’s 15. Rahul Yadav took three wickets for Janakpur, while Lalit Rajbanshi claimed two.
What Changes in the NPL Playoff Race?
Chitwan moved to seven points from six matches, pushing Biratnagar Kings into fifth. Their record now stands at three wins, two losses and one shared-points result.
Elsewhere, Sudurpaschim Royals secured a playoff place by beating Kathmandu Gorkhas by seven runs. They moved top with 10 points.
The takeaway: Chitwan strengthened their position, but fourth place is not qualification. Losing six wickets chasing 89 also makes this a bowling-led victory—not a convincing batting display.
FAQ
Have Chitwan Rhinos qualified for the playoffs?
Not yet. This win moved them into fourth place with seven points and improved their qualification chances.
Which teams are out of the playoff race?
Janakpur Bolts and Karnali Yaks were eliminated following this result. Pokhara Avengers had already been knocked out.
Who was Chitwan’s leading run-scorer against Janakpur?
Dawid Malan scored 35 as Chitwan completed the chase in 17.2 overs.