Lumbini Lions kept their unbeaten run intact in the Nepal Premier League, defeating Janakpur by 16 runs after holding them to 133 for eight in a 20-over chase of 150. The victory gives Lumbini another important result in the competition and strengthens the team’s prospects of reaching the playoffs. Janakpur’s chase included contributions from Harmeet Singh, Aditya Mahat, Saif Hasan and Trit Raj Das, but the side finished 17 runs short of the target.
Janakpur fall short in the chase
Janakpur needed 150 runs to win but ended its innings on 133 for the loss of eight wickets. The total left Lumbini with a 16-run margin of victory and ensured the Lions maintained their unbeaten record. Although Janakpur had several batters make useful contributions, none of those scores took the side close enough to complete the chase.
Harmeet Singh was Janakpur’s leading scorer with 33. Aditya Mahat remained unbeaten on 30, while Saif Hasan made 28 and Trit Raj Das added 18. Their scores formed the main contributions in the pursuit, but Janakpur’s final total showed the challenge of building a successful chase across the full 20 overs. Mahat’s unbeaten innings meant he was still at the crease when the innings ended, with Janakpur short of the required target.
The four scores accounted for 109 of Janakpur’s 133 runs. The remaining 24 runs came from the rest of the innings, while the team lost eight wickets. Janakpur therefore had contributions from multiple batters, but the scoring was not enough to keep pace with the 150-run requirement. The final margin underlined the difference between the target and the total Janakpur managed to reach.
Unbeaten Lumbini strengthen playoff prospects
For Lumbini, the result extends a run of matches without defeat in the NPL. Staying unbeaten keeps the Lions in a strong position as the competition continues and improves their playoff prospects. The win over Janakpur adds another result to that record, with Lumbini successfully defending the target of 150.
A target of 150 left Janakpur needing to maintain a steady rate of scoring throughout its innings. The Lions, however, restricted the chase to 133 in the allotted 20 overs and took eight wickets. The scoreline does not provide a full account of how the innings developed, but it confirms that Janakpur could not bridge the gap before its overs were completed.
The outcome also sets the two teams apart in this fixture: Lumbini preserved its unbeaten status, while Janakpur was unable to convert its batting contributions into a win. Singh’s 33 was the highest score for Janakpur, and Mahat’s 30 not out was the next-largest contribution. Hasan and Das also reached double figures, but the combined effort still left their side 16 runs behind Lumbini.
Lumbini’s latest win keeps its campaign moving in the right direction and strengthens its bid for a place in the playoffs. Janakpur, meanwhile, will have to take the useful contributions from its top scorers into its next outing while addressing the shortfall in this chase. The result was decided by the Lions’ successful defence of 150, preserving their unbeaten run in the Nepal Premier League.
