Chitwan vs Janakpur NPL 2026 Match Result: Malan’s 35* Powers Rhinos to 4-Wicket Win, Janakpur Eliminated

Chitwan Rhinos kept their NPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought four-wicket win over Janakpur Bolts in Match 25 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Friday, November 13, 2026. Chasing a modest target of 89, Chitwan reached 92/6 in 17.2 overs, with Dawid Malan anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 35 off 39 balls and sealing it with a six off the second ball of the 18th over.

The defeat ended Janakpur Bolts’ hopes of reaching the playoffs. The champions of the inaugural edition finish their campaign with four points and remain sixth in the points table, while Chitwan moved to seven points and fourth place. Janakpur join Karnali Yaks and Pokhara Avengers on the sidelines of the playoff race.

Chitwan vs Janakpur NPL 2026 Match Result: Rhinos Win by 4 Wickets

Janakpur Bolts won the toss and opted to bat first, but their decision backfired as Chitwan’s bowlers ran through the batting line-up. Janakpur were bowled out for just 88/9 in their 20 overs — one of the lowest totals of NPL 2026 — before Chitwan completed the chase with 16 balls to spare despite a mid-innings wobble that briefly gave Janakpur hope.

The win came in the second match of Friday’s double-header in Kirtipur, following Kathmandu Gurkhas’ seven-run win over Sudurpaschim Royals earlier in the day. For Janakpur, it was a bitter end to a disappointing title defence: the first-season champions needed a victory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and instead produced their poorest batting display.

Janakpur Bolts Collapse to 88/9 After Winning the Toss

Janakpur’s innings never got going. Opener Trit Raj Das fell for five off nine balls to Ranjit Kumar, and Chitwan captain Sikandar Raza then bowled out his fellow Zimbabwean Ryan Burl for six. Ranjit Kumar tightened Chitwan’s grip further by dismissing Santosh Karki and Harry Tector — Karki, playing his first match of the tournament, scored 10 off 11 balls including a six, while Tector was dismissed without scoring.

Bishal Shusling made 15 off 13 balls, but Jimmy Neesham fell for a duck and Abhishek Tiwari for four, leaving Janakpur struggling at 62 for seven. Aditya Mahata made four off 26 balls, and only captain Harmeet Singh offered any resistance, top-scoring with 25 off 25 balls before falling in the final over. Rahul Yadav hit a six off the last ball of the innings to finish unbeaten on 10 off 10 deliveries, with Lalit Rajbanshi not out on two.

Ranjit Kumar was the most economical bowler of the match, taking three wickets for just two runs in three overs, including a maiden. Sikandar Raza took two wickets for 10 runs in four overs, with two maidens, while Kamil Mishara also claimed two wickets, conceding 18 runs in three overs. Kamal Singh Airee and Rijan Dhakal took one wicket each.

Janakpur Bolts Batting	Runs	Balls
Harmeet Singh (c)	25	25
Bishal Shusling	15	13
Santosh Karki	10	11
Rahul Yadav*	10	10
Ryan Burl	6	—
Trit Raj Das	5	9
Abhishek Tiwari	4	—
Aditya Mahata	4	26
Lalit Rajbanshi*	2	—
Jimmy Neesham	0	—
Harry Tector	0	—

Janakpur Bolts total: 88/9 in 20 overs.

Dawid Malan Anchors Chitwan’s Chase of 89

Chasing just 89, Chitwan made heavy weather of it and briefly looked in danger of one of the great NPL upsets. Arjun Saud was bowled by Lalit Rajbanshi off the second ball of the innings without scoring, and after Kamil Mishara’s brisk 12 off six balls, Chitwan slipped to 27/3 and then 28/4 as Ravi Bopara (13 off 16) and captain Sikandar Raza (0 off 2) fell in quick succession. When Bibek Yadav departed for seven, Chitwan were 37/5 in the sixth over and the small target suddenly looked anything but safe.

That is when Dawid Malan took control. The experienced England batter played the situation perfectly, refusing to panic as wickets fell around him and rotating the strike while the asking rate stayed comfortable. At 67 for six in 13.2 overs, after Kushal Malla fell for 15 off 25 balls, Chitwan were still in danger — but Malan held his ground and guided the team home with an unbeaten 35 off 39 balls, sealing the victory with a six off the second ball of the 18th over. Kamal Singh Airee finished unbeaten on seven off 10 balls, and the pair’s unbroken 25-run stand for the seventh wicket proved the difference.

Chitwan Rhinos Batting	Runs	Balls
Dawid Malan*	35	39
Kushal Malla	15	25
Ravi Bopara	13	16
Kamil Mishara	12	6
Bibek Yadav	7	5
Kamal Singh Airee*	7	10
Sikandar Raza (c)	0	2
Arjun Saud (wk)	0	1

Chitwan Rhinos total: 92/6 in 17.2 overs. Extras: 3.

Player of the Match: Dawid Malan

Dawid Malan was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 35 off 39 balls. It was not a fluent innings by his standards — just one six and no fours — but it was exactly what the situation demanded. Malan walked in with Chitwan reeling at 26/2, watched four more wickets fall, and still finished the job with 16 balls to spare, sealing the win with a six off the second ball of the 18th over.

Key Turning Points in Chitwan vs Janakpur NPL 2026

• Ranjit Kumar’s opening burst: The left-arm spinner’s 3/2 in three overs, including a maiden, broke Janakpur’s top order before it could settle and ensured the defending champions never posted a competitive total.
• Sikandar Raza’s two maidens: The Chitwan captain’s 2/10 in four overs squeezed Janakpur through the middle overs and kept the pressure on after the early breakthroughs.
• Janakpur’s collapse to 62/7: Neesham fell for a duck and Tiwari and Mahata cheaply, leaving Harmeet Singh stranded and the total well short of par.
• Chitwan’s own wobble at 37/5: Rahul Yadav’s triple strike and Rajbanshi’s double briefly opened the door for a famous Janakpur defence, and at 67/6 the game was genuinely alive.
• Malan’s calm finish: With the asking rate never climbing above a run a ball, Malan refused to chase the game, absorbed the pressure and finished it with a six.

What the Result Means for the NPL 2026 Points Table

The win took Chitwan Rhinos to seven points and fourth place in the NPL 2026 league standings, keeping their bid for a place in the playoffs alive. Chitwan must now win their remaining league fixture to strengthen that bid. Janakpur Bolts, with four points, remain sixth and are officially out of the playoff race — a disappointing end for the champions of the inaugural edition, whose title defence never recovered from a poor start to the season.

The result also underlines how tight the race for the playoffs has become. Earlier on Friday, Kathmandu Gurkhas beat Sudurpaschim Royals by seven runs to qualify for the playoffs, and Chitwan’s win means the final playoff places will go down to the last round of league matches.

What’s Next: Chitwan vs Karnali on November 15

Chitwan Rhinos will next face Karnali Yaks on November 15 in their final league-stage fixture. A win there would take Chitwan to nine points and put them firmly in contention for a playoff spot, while a defeat would almost certainly end their campaign. Janakpur Bolts, meanwhile, bow out of NPL 2026 with their title defence over.

For the latest NPL 2026 fixtures, results and points table updates, follow our NPL 2026 today match coverage, and read our earlier Chitwan vs Kathmandu NPL 2026 match result for how the Rhinos fared in their previous outing.

Chitwan vs Janakpur NPL 2026 Match Result Summary

Match: Match 25, Nepal Premier League 2026, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, November 13, 2026. Toss: Janakpur Bolts won the toss and opted to bat. Janakpur Bolts: 88/9 in 20 overs (Harmeet Singh 25, Bishal Shusling 15; Ranjit Kumar 3/2, Sikandar Raza 2/10, Kamil Mishara 2/18). Chitwan Rhinos: 92/6 in 17.2 overs (Dawid Malan 35*, Kushal Malla 15, Ravi Bopara 13; Rahul Yadav 3/19, Lalit Rajbanshi 2/23). Result: Chitwan Rhinos won by 4 wickets with 16 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Dawid Malan (35* off 39). Points: Chitwan 7 points (4th place), Janakpur 4 points (6th, eliminated from the playoff race).

Note: No prediction article existed for this fixture on cricfacts.com, so no prediction pick applies — this report is published under the standing order to cover every finished NPL 2026 match.