Defending champions Janakpur Bolts ended their Nepal Premier League campaign at the bottom of the table after suffering a three-run defeat against Karnali Yaks in their final league match at the TU Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Set a target of 130, Janakpur managed only 126 for seven despite a late surge from Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who struck a blistering 51 off 39 balls with one four and four sixes.

The equation had come down to 14 off the final over and nine off the last two balls, with captain Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton hitting a boundary off the fifth delivery.

However, he could add just a single off the last ball, as his partner Aaditya Mahata was run out attempting a second run.

Janakpur’s top order collapsed early, with marquee batter Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah dismissed for ducks.

Openers Maaz Sadaqat (12) and Mayan Yadav (9) departed cheaply before Krishnamurthi and Sangeeth Cooray revived the innings with a 75-run stand for the fifth wicket. Cooray made 25 off 32 balls, striking one four. Loftie-Eaton remained unbeaten on 13.

For Karnali, William Bosisto claimed two wickets and was named Player of the Match for conceding only 18 runs in four overs. Mark Watt delivered a miserly spell, taking one wicket for just nine runs, including a maiden over. Pawan Sarraf, Nandan Yadav and captain Sompal Kami also picked up a wicket each.

Earlier, Karnali had posted 129 for nine, with opener Imran Sheikh top-scoring with 33 in his debut match. Gulsan Jha hit 19, Bosisto added 15 and Najibullah Zadran contributed 13, while Sompal remained unbeaten on 18 off 11 balls. For Janakpur, Lalit Rajbanshi and Aaditya Mahata took two wickets apiece, while Cooray, Sah and Sadaqat claimed one each.

Both teams had been eliminated from the play-off race before the match. Janakpur finished eighth after losing six of their seven games.

Karnali, who secured two wins, leapfrogged Chitwan Rhinos on net run rate to end the league stage in sixth place.