Chitwan Rhinos boosted their chances of progressing into the playoffs of the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament with a 32-run victory over already-qualified Janakpur Bolts at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

The victory moved Chitwan up to third-place in the eight-team standings after playing all seven matches, putting them level on eight points with second-placed Sudurpaschim Royals, who still have two games in hand. Sudurpaschim need only one victory to advance.

Janakpur, having completed their league fixtures, lead the table with 10 points.

The outcome also eliminated Biratnagar Kings and Pokhara Avengers, who lost to Kathmandu Gurkhas earlier in the morning, from the playoff contention. Both Biratnagar and Pokhara have four points, meaning they will not be able to enter the top four even if they win their remaining games.

The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

Karnali Yaks, also on eight points, are in fourth position with a game in hand.

Kathmandu sit in the fifth spot with six points after playing six matches.

The victory over Pokhara kept Kathmandu alive in the top four race but they will need to defeat Biratnagar on Sunday and hope Karnali suffer a significant loss against Sudurpaschim.

Chitwan came to Saturday’s game on a two-match losing streak knowing that a defeat against Janakpur would put their playoff bid in disarray.

But skipper Kushal Malla chose to bat first and delivered at a time when the team needed the most with a scintillating half-century, his first of the competition.

Malla defied the slow pitch to smash 72 runs off 41 balls, laced with three boundaries and seven sixes, to help Chitwan post a formidable 180-5.

Hassan Eisakhil scored 28 runs off 19 balls to set the tone before Malla exploited the good start with a 113-run partnership with Ravi Bopara, who contributed 44 off 32 balls.

Janakpur’s Lalit Rajbanshi took two wickets, taking his tournament-leading tally to 11, while Harsh Thaker, Mohammad Mohsin and James Neesham also chipped in with a wicket each.

Janakpur’s reply stumbled from the start as they lost Anil Sah (8), Lahiru Minaltha (1) and Thaker (6) cheaply.

Shubh Kansakar’s 15 runs off 12 balls and opener Aasif Sheikh’s 23 runs off 26 deliveries dragged Janakpur to 66-5 after 9.4 overs.

Neesham attempted a rescue act with a blistering half-century (65 off just 24 balls) and added a vital 60-run stand with Mohammad Mohsin, who supported him with 13 off 12.

But Neesham’s dismissal by Sohail Tanvir (2-23) proved decisive. Janakpur’s lower order faltered with two run-outs (of Mohsin and Arniko Yadav) in quick succession, and their innings folded at 148 in 17.6 overs.

Rijan Dhakal (2-19) and Malla (2-26) also starred with the ball, while Amar Routela also contributed a wicket.

-Kathmandu still have chance-

Earlier in the day, Kathmandu secured a vital six-wicket victory over Pokhara to stay in contention for the playoffs.

Fielding first, Kathmandu bowlers, led by Karan KC (3-24) and Rashid Khan (3-43), restricted Pokhara to 138-8.

Pokhara made a fine start after opener Dinesh Kharel played 38 off 26 to collect 44 runs in the powerplay, despite losing Andries Gous to Gerhard Erasmus for a duck in second over.

A mid-inning collapse that saw the dismissal of Kharel, Kushal Bhurtel (7), Gomel (8) derailed their momentum.

Dilip Nath contributed 27 off 24 to lead a brief recovery but Khan returned to dispatch Nath in the 15.4 overs.

Raymon Reifer played 41 not out off 30 to start another resistance but Karan KC choked the other end of the wicket by removing Michael Leask (1), Narayan Joshi (0) and Bipin Khatri (4) to limit Pokhara to 138-8.

In response, Stephen Eskinazi’s first half-century of the tournament anchored Kathmandu chase. Eskinazi smashed 60 runs in his 34-ball knock that featured 10 fours.

Kathmandu started brightly as Eskinazi and Levitt put together a 58-run opening stand.

Levitt fell to Bipin Khatri (3-19) after scoring 32 runs off 18 balls.

Eskinazi then partnered with Bhim Sharki—who scored 22 off 20 balls—for a 57-run stand for the second wicket to take Kathmandu closer to target.

Kathmandu suffered a wobble half-way into the innings as they lost Sharki to Leask, and Eskinazi and KC to Khatri in quick succession.

But Erasmus blasted unbeaten 10-ball 25 to take Kathmandu to 142-4 in 14.1 overs.