Lumbini Lions strengthened their grip on top spot in the Nepal Premier League with a 16-run victory over Janakpur Bolts in a clash between the winners of the tournament’s first two editions on Thursday.

Chasing 150 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Janakpur managed only 127 for eight in their 20 overs.

The win, Lumbini’s third in four matches, took their points tally to 10, giving them a three-point lead over the other teams. It was Janakpur’s third defeat in five matches.

Lumbini are now unbeaten in their last ten matches. They won six games on their way to the title last season, while their fixture against Chitwan Rhinos this time was abandoned because of rain.

Janakpur’s chase never quite got going. They were reduced to 55 for five after 10 overs, leaving them with too much to do in the second half of the innings.

Making his first appearance in the competition, Parvez Hossain Emon was dismissed for one. Trit Raj Das and Saif Hassan put on 36 for the second wicket before D’Arcy Short bowled Das out at 18 off 18 balls, including one four.

Hassan top-scored for Janakpur with 28 off 25 deliveries, hitting four fours. Bishal Susling made four, Anil Sah one, Jimmy Neesham nine and Abhishek Tiwari failed to open his account.

Harmeet Singh and Aaditya Mahata offered some late resistance with a 43-run stand for the eighth wicket. Sher Malla broke the partnership by bowling Singh, who made 33 off 20 balls, including three sixes. Mahata remained unbeaten on 30 off 23 balls, hitting four sixes.

D’Arcy Short was Lumbini’s leading bowler with three wickets for 23 runs in four overs. Tilak Bhandari and Sher Malla took two wickets apiece, while Ruben Trumpelmann claimed one.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Lumbini made 149 for eight in their allotted 20 overs despite losing Short on the first ball of the innings. The Australian opener edged a delivery from Lalit Rajbanshi to Rahul Yadav.

The other opener, Aasif Sheikh, scored 21 off 21 balls, hitting two fours and a six, before being given out lbw to Harmeet. He chose not to review the decision, although television replays later showed the ball would have missed the stumps.

Niroshan Dickwella added 27 off 27 balls, with two fours and a six, while Dilip Nath contributed 25 off 16, hitting two fours and two sixes.

Captain Rohit Paudel top-scored with 38 off 31 deliveries, including three fours and a six.

Janakpur relied exclusively on spin for the first 16 overs before bringing on medium-pacer Rahul Yadav for the 17th. In the following over, Abhishek Tiwari dismissed Rohit.

Shamim Hossain made 13 off 13 balls, including a six, before falling to Rahul. Sundeep Jora scored nine off four balls, hitting two fours, while Trumpelmann added 15 off eight deliveries, with two sixes.

For Janakpur, Bishal Susling took two wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Rahul claimed two for 17 in two overs, while Harmeet and Lalit Rajbanshi took one wicket each.