Cricket Kitchen

Janakpur Bolts Win Toss, Elect to Bat First Against Chitwan Rhinos in Crucial NPL Clash

November 13, 2026

Kathmandu – Janakpur Bolts have won the toss and elected to bat first against Chitwan Rhinos in the second match of the day in the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

The match is crucial for both teams as they compete for a place in the playoffs. With two league matches remaining, Chitwan Rhinos have no option but to win their remaining games. Meanwhile, Janakpur, who are playing their final league match, need a victory and must also depend on the results of other teams to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Chitwan, led by Sikandar Raza, have struggled to maintain consistency throughout the tournament. They began their campaign with an 8-run victory over Biratnagar before sharing points with Lumbini after rain interrupted the match. They then suffered a 5-wicket defeat against Sudurpaschim but bounced back with a 30-run win over Pokhara. However, in their most recent match, Chitwan lost to Kathmandu by 10 runs.

Having collected 5 points from 5 matches, Chitwan need victories in their remaining two games to strengthen their playoff chances.

Janakpur, meanwhile, started their campaign with a 19-run defeat against Karnali. However, they made a strong comeback by defeating Kathmandu by 8 wickets and Pokhara by 9 runs in their next two matches. Despite that promising start, they have failed to collect points in their last three games.

A narrow 2-run defeat against Biratnagar in a match that went down to the final ball proved costly for Janakpur. They subsequently suffered defeats against Lumbini by 16 runs and Sudurpaschim by 27 runs, leaving their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

With just 4 points from 5 matches, Janakpur can reach 6 points with a victory in their final league game. However, with other mid-table teams still having two matches to play, a win alone will not be enough. Janakpur will also need favourable results from other matches to remain in contention for a playoff spot.