Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers NPL 2026 Match Result: Janakpur Win by 9 Runs

Janakpur Bolts beat Pokhara Avengers by 9 runs in Match 9 of the Nepal Premier League 2026 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Sunday, November 1. Defending a modest total of 147 for 7, Janakpur’s bowlers held their nerve at the death to restrict Pokhara to 138 for 9 in their 20 overs, handing the Bolts their second win of the season and leaving Pokhara still searching for their first points.

Pokhara won the toss and chose to field first, but Janakpur opener Trit Raj Das anchored the innings with a Player of the Match performance, scoring 61 off 55 balls. In reply, Pokhara captain Kushal Bhurtel top-scored with 35 off 24 balls, but no other batter crossed 25 as Moeen Ali’s superb spell of 3 for 13 strangled the chase.

Janakpur vs Pokhara NPL 2026 match result: score summary

Match 9 Score Summary	Score
Janakpur Bolts	147/7 (20 overs)
Pokhara Avengers	138/9 (20 overs)
Result	Janakpur Bolts won by 9 runs
Player of the Match	Trit Raj Das (61 off 55)
Venue	Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Toss	Pokhara Avengers won the toss and chose to field

Trit Raj Das anchors Janakpur’s 147 for 7

Janakpur’s innings was built around Das, who opened the batting and carried the innings with 61 off 55 balls, including seven boundaries. He found support from Abhishek Tiwari, who smashed a quick 24 off just 10 balls to lift the scoring rate in the middle overs. No other Janakpur batter passed 25, but the contributions around Das were enough to take the Bolts to a competitive 147 for 7.

For Pokhara, Shakib Al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 15 runs in his four overs, while the rest of the attack kept things tight enough that Janakpur never fully broke free. At the innings break, the target of 148 looked well within reach on a good Kirtipur batting surface.

Moeen Ali’s 3 for 13 strangles Pokhara’s chase

Pokhara’s chase never quite got going. Captain Kushal Bhurtel fought hard at the top with 35 off 24 balls, including five boundaries, but wickets fell regularly around him. Dinesh Kharel managed only 3 off 9 balls, Shakib Al Hasan scored 9, and the middle order could not build the partnership the chase needed.

The decisive spell came from Moeen Ali, who took 3 wickets for just 13 runs in his four overs, including a maiden, to break the back of Pokhara’s batting. With the required rate climbing, Pokhara’s lower order swung hard but could only reach 138 for 9, falling nine runs short of the target.

What the result means for the NPL 2026 points table

The win lifts Janakpur Bolts to second place on the points table with 4 points from three matches, having now won two in a row after their opening defeat to Karnali Yaks. With Harmeet Singh’s side finding form at the right time, the Bolts are firmly in the race for the playoff places.

Pokhara Avengers, by contrast, remain seventh and winless after two matches. Despite a star-studded squad featuring Shakib Al Hasan, the Avengers have now lost to Sudurpaschim Royals and Janakpur Bolts, and captain Kushal Bhurtel’s side urgently need a win to keep their campaign alive. Their next chance comes in the coming days as the league phase continues at Kirtipur.

For the tournament as a whole, the result underlines how tight NPL 2026 has been: three of the first nine matches have now been decided by under 20 runs, and no team has been able to dominate. With the league phase running until November 15 and the playoffs from November 17, every point is already precious.

What’s next in NPL 2026

NPL 2026 continues at Kirtipur with a double-header on Monday, November 2: Kathmandu Gurkhas take on table-toppers Karnali Yaks in the afternoon match, followed by Sudurpaschim Royals against Chitwan Rhinos in the evening. You can find the next fixture, timings and streaming details in our NPL 2026 today match page, and the full list of squads in our NPL 2026 all teams squad guide.

FAQs: Janakpur vs Pokhara NPL 2026

Who won Janakpur vs Pokhara in NPL 2026?

Janakpur Bolts beat Pokhara Avengers by 9 runs in Match 9 of NPL 2026 on November 1, 2026, at Kirtipur.

What was the score of Janakpur vs Pokhara?

Janakpur Bolts scored 147 for 7 in 20 overs, and Pokhara Avengers replied with 138 for 9 in 20 overs.

Who was the Player of the Match in Janakpur vs Pokhara?

Janakpur opener Trit Raj Das was named Player of the Match for his 61 off 55 balls.

Where does Janakpur stand on the NPL 2026 points table?

After this win, Janakpur Bolts moved to second place with 4 points from three matches, while Pokhara Avengers remain winless after two matches.

When is the next NPL 2026 match?

NPL 2026 continues at Kirtipur with Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Karnali Yaks and Sudurpaschim Royals vs Chitwan Rhinos on November 2, 2026.