Janakpur Bolts started their Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket campaign with a victory, defeating Biratnagar Kings by 8 wickets in the tournament that began on Saturday.
In the match, Janakpur’s Lahiru Milantha played an unbeaten knock of 75 runs, supported by Harsh Thakar with 29 runs. Chasing a target of 128 runs, Janakpur initially lost two wickets early, but Lahiru and Thakar steadied the innings.
After the win, Janakpur captain Anil Shah credited their success to staying composed at the crease. “The pitch favored the bowlers, and no one was finding it easy to connect with the ball,” said Anil. “Our foreign players are experienced; there’s a lot to learn from them. Staying on the crease helps understand what a good score on the pitch would be.”
He added, “Even Martin Guptill struggled initially but adapted as he spent more time on the crease, eventually starting to score runs.”
Anil emphasized the importance of earning 2 points early in the tournament. “We executed our plans well, and that made this win possible,” he said.
Although Janakpur’s top order failed, their foreign players held their ground and ensured the victory. “Our top order didn’t perform, but Lahiru and Harsh played well and got us the win,” he said.
Anil highlighted that no team in the NPL is weak. “There’s no weak team here. It’s not just about having foreign players; the better team on the day will win,” he added.
When asked about not using Aasif as the keeper, Anil explained, “We wanted Asif to focus on guiding the Nepali bowlers. We had Milantha as a keeper option, and since he knows about Nepali players, it was an easier decision.”
