Janakpur Bolts secured their second consecutive victory in the Nepal Premier League on Sunday, beating Pokhara Avengers by nine runs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Trit Raj Das top-scored with 61 as Janakpur, asked to bat first after losing the toss, posted 147 for seven in their 20 overs. Pokhara managed 138 for nine in reply.

Janakpur, champions of the inaugural NPL season three years ago, had lost their opening match to Karnali Yaks by 19 runs before bouncing back with an eight-wicket win over Kathmandu Gorkhas. Pokhara, meanwhile, have now lost both their matches, having gone down by six wickets to Sudurpaschim Royals in their opener.

Das anchored Janakpur’s innings with 61 off 55 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes. He was caught by Pokhara captain Kushal Bhurtel off Mahedi Hasan in the 18th over.

Das and Moeen Ali gave Janakpur a strong start, putting on 45 without loss in the six-over powerplay. But Moeen’s dismissal in the seventh over triggered a collapse, with Janakpur’s scoring rate also slowing.

Moeen made 21 off 16 balls, including three fours and a six, before Shakib Al Hasan bowled him. The England all-rounder has won two World Cups.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib was the most effective bowler for Pokhara, taking three wickets for 15 runs in four overs. He made an immediate impact, conceding just four runs and taking three wickets in his first three overs.

He bowled Saif Hassan for one and dismissed Janakpur captain Harmeet Singh for nine. Anil Sah also made nine, while Jimmy Neesham scored 11 off 11 balls.

Young batter Abhishek Tiwari provided a late boost with an unbeaten 24 off 11 deliveries, hitting one four and two sixes. Amar Routela was bowled for two off the final ball of the innings.

Bhurtel was Pokhara’s top scorer with 35 off 24 balls, including five fours. Dinesh Kharel made three, Mahedi Hasan eight, Shakib nine and Arjun Gharti Magar seven. Mohammad Saifuddin was dismissed without scoring.

Kiran Thagunna scored 15 off five balls, hitting two fours and a six. Chamika Karunaratne made four, while Bipin Acharya scored 20 off 19 balls, with one four. Bipin Khatri made 17 off 14 deliveries, and Pratik Pokharel remained unbeaten on two.

Moeen led Janakpur’s bowling with three wickets for 13 runs in four overs, including a maiden. Harmeet and Saif Hassan took two wickets each, conceding 20 and 36 runs respectively in their four overs. Neesham and Lalit Rajbanshi claimed one wicket apiece.