Janakpur defeated Pokhara by nine runs in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Sunday, defending a target of 148 after Moeen Ali’s tight bowling helped restrict their opponents to 138 for nine in 20 overs. The result gave Janakpur their second win of the competition and lifted their points tally to four from three matches, while Pokhara suffered a second consecutive defeat.
Janakpur defend a target of 148
Janakpur set Pokhara a target of 148, leaving the chasing side needing to reach 148 to win. Pokhara finished its 20 overs on 138 for the loss of nine wickets, falling nine runs short. The final score meant Janakpur successfully defended the target and secured the result without allowing Pokhara to complete the chase.
The margin reflected a close finish on the scoreboard: Pokhara remained in the contest through the allotted overs but could not make up the difference. With one wicket still standing at the end of the innings, the final total of 138 was not enough to overtake Janakpur’s target. The nine-run win gave Janakpur a valuable outcome in the league, where each match contributes to a team’s points tally.
Moeen Ali helps restrict Pokhara
Moeen Ali’s tight bowling was a key part of Janakpur’s defence. His bowling helped limit Pokhara to 138, keeping the chase below the required total. While the available match details do not provide individual bowling figures, they identify Ali’s disciplined spell as an important factor in Janakpur’s ability to hold on to its target.
Restricting a side to 138 for nine over 20 overs ensured that Pokhara could not reach the 148-run target. Janakpur’s bowling effort maintained pressure during the chase and prevented Pokhara from scoring the runs needed to turn the match around. The result was confirmed at the end of the allotted overs, with Janakpur ahead by nine runs.
Second win for Janakpur, another setback for Pokhara
The victory was Janakpur’s second in three matches. Their four points from those three games mark the team’s position after Sunday’s fixture. The win adds to their campaign and gives them a positive result following a match in which they had to defend a target rather than finish the contest while batting second.
For Pokhara, the defeat extended a difficult run: it was the team’s second consecutive loss. Their total of 138 for nine left them short of the target, and the result means they were unable to break that losing sequence on Sunday. The match therefore carried different consequences for the two sides, with Janakpur adding another win and Pokhara facing a further setback.
Janakpur’s nine-run victory was decided by the difference between the target and Pokhara’s final score, with Ali’s tight bowling helping keep the chasing side in check. Janakpur leave the match with a second win and four points from three outings, while Pokhara will look to respond after consecutive defeats in the NPL.
