Opener Anil Sah scored a stellar unbeaten half-century as Janakpur Bolts defeated Karnali Yaks by eight wickets to continue their winning start in the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Sah powered Janakpur, who were chasing a target of 142, with a scintillating 62 off 42 balls, laced with six boundaries and three sixes, sealing the win in just 15.1 overs.

A second victory in as many matches puts Janakpur, who had opened the tournament with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Biratnagar Kings on Saturday, on the summit of the eight-team standings with four points.

The top four teams at the end of the single round-robin league progress into the playoffs, where the league winners and runners-up clash in the Qualifier 1 for a direct final berth, while the third and fourth placed teams battle in the Eliminator. The losing side of the Qualifier 1 vie against the winners of Eliminator in the Qualifier 2 for the second spot in the title match.

Sah’s brilliance was complemented by fellow opener Aasif Sheikh, who added a brisk 36 off 29 balls.

The pair, also Nepal’s national team openers, shared an 84-run stand that laid the foundation for a successful chase.

Sheikh fell to Mousom Dhakal in the 9.4 overs, but the American Lahiru Milantha and New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham ensured a smooth finish.

Milantha, who had scored an unbeaten half-century against Biratnagar, added 24 in his aggressive 13 ball-knock to guide Janakpur closer to target. He was trapped leg before by Zeeshan Maqsood in the 12.5 overs.

Neesham, playing his first match after missing the opener, then contributed 16 not out off eight balls to take Janakpur to 142-2.

Earlier, Karnali opted to bat first after winning the toss and posted 141-7 from their 20 overs.

Tournament’s biggest name, former Indian star Shikhar Dhawan, failed to live up the billings as he faltered with a modest 14 off 14, bowled by Harsh Thaker.

A string of early dismissals, including opener Dev Khanal (1), West Indies batter Chadwick Walton (8), and Oman’s Zeeshan Maqsood (0), left Karnali in deep trouble at 35-4 in 7.4 overs.

Babar Hayat dragged Karnali to 68-5 in the 14th overs.

But local hero Gulsan Jha led the recovery with 36 off 27 before Arjun Gharti and Sompal Kami added 56 runs for the seventh wicket to set a competitive target.

Gharti scored 33 off 22 balls, while Kami played 29 not out off 13 balls.

Chitwan Rhinos off to winning start

Chitwan Rhinos opened their campaign with a five-wicket victory over Kathmandu Gurkhas earlier at the same venue.

Pakistani bowler Sohail Tanvir, a late replacement for the injured Marchant de Lange, was the destroyer-in-chief as his 5-21 restricted Kathmandu to 111-9.

The pacer struck with his first delivery to get rid of Englishman Stephen Eskinazi for just two in the second over.

Tanvir then dismantled the middle order with two more wickets in his next two overs, first cutting short the aggressive start of Netherlands opener Michael Lievitt (25 off 16) and then Bhim Sharki (1), that left Kathmandu reeling at 39-4 at the end of the power play.

Sumit Maharjan added 29 off 41 and Shankar Rana played 17-ball 16 to start a brief resistance and Dan Douthwaite played 19 not out as Kathmandu limped past 100.

But their total fell well below par as Tanvir returned at the death and took the wickets of Karan KC and Shahab Alam.

Chitwan’s chase was also full of hurdles; they were reduced to 68-5 in 8.5 overs, with Shabhab Alam striking thrice.

They lost openers Deepak Bohara (7) and Afghanistan opener Hassan Eisakhil (12) to Alam.

England’s Luc Benkenstein contributed 22 off 17 before Gerhard Erasmus trapped him lbw.

Kushal Malla then fell to Douthwaite for 11 before Alam dispatched Ravi Bopara.

But a composed 28 not out off 31 from Santosh Karki, accompanied by Sharad Vesawkar’s 11 off 21, guided Chitwan to 114-5 in 17.1 overs.