Sudurpaschim Royals claimed a commanding 72-run victory over Janakpur Bolts in their fifth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.

Winning the toss, Janakpur opted to field first. Sudurpaschim posted a target of 124 runs, scoring 123 for 9 in the allotted 20 overs. Opener Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari gave a solid start, putting up a 55-run partnership. Zaib scored 21 off 21 balls, including two sixes, before being caught by Arniko Yadav off Harsh Thaker’s delivery. Bhandari contributed 33 runs off 37 balls, hitting three fours and a six.

The remaining batters struggled, with Ishan Pandey managing 17 off 14 balls and Brandon McMullen scoring 11 off 17. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee was dismissed for a duck, while Harmeet Singh scored just 1 run.

For Janakpur, Kishore Mahato was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets at the cost of 35 runs. Sher Malla and Arniko Yadav picked up two wickets each, while Harsh Thaker bagged one.

Chasing 124, Janakpur Bolts crumbled under Sudurpaschim’s disciplined bowling attack, getting bowled out for just 51 runs in 12.1 overs. Harmeet Singh, Ishan Pandey, and Dipendra Singh Airee each took two wickets, while Naren Saud, Saif Ali Zaib, and Scott Kuggeleijn claimed one apiece. Harmeet Singh stood out, conceding just 2 runs in his spell, including two maiden overs.

Joshua Tromp’s 13 runs were the highest individual score for Janakpur, with no other batter reaching double digits. Bolt’s wicket fell off with Lahiru Milantha (7), Harsh Thakar (5), Jimmy Nisam (4), Shubh Kansakar (0), Arniko Yadav (1), Sher Malla (0) and Lalit Rajbanshi (4) runs. Kishore Mahato remained not out at 0 off 11 balls.

The win propelled Sudurpaschim Royals to the top of the points table with 8 points from 5 matches, displacing Janakpur, who also have 8 points but fell behind on net run rate.