Karnali beat Janakpur in a low-scoring thriller

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Dec 07, 2025

Karnali Yaks ended their Nepal Premier League (NPL) campaign with a dramatic 3-run win over defending champions Janakpur Bolts in a low-scoring final league match.

Chasing 130, Janakpur managed only 126 runs for 7 wickets in their full 20 overs. Despite a fighting half-century from Sanjay Krishnamurthy; who scored 51 off 39 balls with one four and four sixes, Janakpur fell short.

Sangeeth Cooray supported with 25 off 32 balls, and the duo added a crucial 75-run stand after Janakpur had slumped to 29/4. But once Cooray was dismissed by Karnali captain Sompal Kami in the 17th over, the chase tightened.

Janakpur needed 14 runs in the last over but set batter Krishnamurthy holed out to long-off in the very first ball, after which Janakpur collected only 10 and lost two wickets.

For Karnali, William Bosisto took 2 wickets, while Mark Watt, Pawan Sarraf, Nandan Yadav, and Sompal Kami picked up one each.

Earlier, Karnali posted 129/9 after being sent in to bat. Imran Sheikh, playing his first match this season, top-scored with 33 off 32 balls. Gulshan Jha (19), Sompal Kami (18), Priyank Panchal (16), William Bosisto (15), and Najibullah Zadran (13) added valuable runs.

Janakpur’s Lalit Rajbanshi and Aditya Mahato claimed two wickets each, while Cooray along with Anil Sah, and Maaz Sadaqat took one apiece.

With this win, Karnali finished sixth with 4 points, ahead of Chitwan Rhinos on net run rate. Janakpur, the defending champions, ended at the bottom with just one win from seven matches.