Kathmandu, Nepal: In an exciting start to the Nepal Premier League 2025 (NPL Season 2), Kathmandu Gurkhas defeated defending champions Janakpur Bolts by 5 wickets in the opening match. Batting second, Kathmandu chased down the target of 131 runs in 18 overs, finishing at 132 for 5.
Match Highlights:
Ben Charlesworth starred for Kathmandu, scoring 46 runs off 23 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes. He shared a 70-run opening partnership with Akash Tripathi, who added 39 runs off 45 balls. The partnership was broken by Janakpur’s Sanjay Krishnamurthy, who caught Charlesworth off Jon Simpson’s delivery.
The second wicket fell when Bhim Sarki scored 3 runs before being caught by Lahiru Milintha off Lalit Rajbansi’s bowling. Milind Kumar contributed 19 runs, while Jon Simpson added 13 runs. Gerhard Erasmus and Mohammad Adil Alam finished the chase with 1 and 8 runs respectively, securing victory for Kathmandu Gurkhas.
Janakpur Bolts’ Bowling Performance:
Janakpur’s bowlers struggled to contain the opposition. Kishor Mahto, Anil Shah, Lalit Rajbansi, Jon Nichol Lofty, and Sanjay Krishnamurthy each claimed one wicket. Kishor Yadav was the most expensive, conceding 28 runs in 3 overs, while Anil Shah and Lalit Rajbansi gave away 26 runs each.
The win highlighted Kathmandu Gurkhas’ strong batting display and exposed weaknesses in Janakpur Bolts’ bowling line-up, giving them a strong start in NPL 2025.
Top Performers:
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Ben Charlesworth (Kathmandu Gurkhas): 46 runs, 5 fours, 3 sixes
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Akash Tripathi (Kathmandu Gurkhas): 39 runs
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Kishor Yadav (Janakpur Bolts): 1 wicket, 28 runs in 3 overs
Keywords used: Nepal Premier League 2025, NPL Season 2, Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Janakpur Bolts, Janakpur Bolts match result, Kathmandu Gurkhas win, Nepal cricket news, NPL cricket highlights.
