Janakpur Bolts Post Competitive Total of 145/8, Driven by Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s Half-Century

The Janakpur Bolts, under their new captain Wayne Parnell, set a competitive target of 146 runs against the Sudurpaschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) match on Saturday. The Bolts finished their innings with a score of 145 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground.

The innings was anchored by American batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who scored a crucial half-century from 38 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. Janakpur’s scoring rate dramatically increased in the final eight overs, during which they added 78 runs to their total. The team had been struggling at 67 for 4 after 12 overs before the late surge.

Krishnamurthi was particularly aggressive in the 15th over bowled by Dipendra, smashing two sixes and a four to take 20 runs off the over. He shared a vital 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Aditya Mahata, who contributed 15 runs from 13 balls. The partnership helped Janakpur recover from their precarious mid-innings position.

For the Sudurpaschim Royals, fast bowler Avinash Bohara was the most successful, claiming four wickets for 30 runs in his four overs. He notably slowed Janakpur’s momentum by dismissing both Krishnamurthi and Subh Kansakar on consecutive balls in the 18th over, conceding only two runs in that over. Fellow pacer Scott Kuggeleijn took three wickets for 22 runs.

Janakpur’s start was shaky, losing opener Aasif Sheikh bowled in the very first over to Kuggeleijn, who also dismissed Mayan Yadav for six runs. Opener Maz Sadaqat was bowled by Dipendra for 12 runs. Yan Nickol Loftie-Eaton provided stability earlier, scoring 39 runs from 33 balls. Captain Wayne Parnell was dismissed after scoring 14 runs from 12 balls, leaving Rupesh Singh unbeaten on one run.