NPL 2024 Final Royals vs Bolts Highlights: Milantha Overwhelms Royals As Bolts Lift Inaugural Title

Janakpur Bolts celebrating NPL 2024 victory [Source: @OfficialNPLT20/x]

Janakpur Bolts stunned table-toppers Sudurpaschim Royals on the day of the final to lift the inaugural Nepal Premier League title on December 21. Bolts opener Lahiru Milantha hogged the limelight with the bat on the big day by pulling off a remarkable run-chase for his team.

Here’s the timeline of how Royals vs Bolts panned out at Kirtipur:

Royals vs Bolts Highlights: Saif Zaib Mounts 117-Run Opening Stand With Bhandari

Sudurpaschim Royals openers Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari mounted 117 runs for the first wicket within just the first 12 overs of the match. Zaib himself clobbered 69 of those runs from 43 deliveries with eight boundaries and two sixes before becoming the first of Kishore Mahato’s three victims of the innings.

Just a couple of deliveries later in the following over, Lalit Rajbanshi knocked out Bhandari (41 off 31) to deny him of a well-deserved half-century.

Royals vs Bolts Highlights: Mahato And Mahato Restrict Royals To 184

Kishore Mahato (3-25) and leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin (3-40) prevented a Sudurpaschim Royals’ flourish in the backend of the innings by restricting them to 184-9 from 20 overs. Both Mahato and Mohsin picked up three wickets each, including a combined four in the final 12 deliveries.

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For the Royals, middle-order batters Brandon McMullen and Harmeet Singh chipped in with 14 runs each following the opening assault of Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari. Scott Kuggeleijn at number six smacked two boundaries in his 10-ball knock while Naresh Budayair whacked a handy six in the final over.

Royals vs Bolts Highlights: Milantha Takes Bolts Past 100 With Sheikh, Mohsin

Janakpur Bolts opener Lahiru Milantha scorched the Royals’ bowling with a raging powerplay start, blazing his team to 71-0 alongside partner and captain Aasif Sheikh in the first six overs. Sheikh himself made 33 off 19 balls before getting holed out by Brandon McMullen off Saif Zaib at 73-1.

Milantha brought up his half-century a while later and took the Bolts past the 100-run mark at the halfway stage of the innings. Mohammad Mohsin at number three chipped in with nine runs in his 32-run partnership with Milantha, but he failed to take his team past the finishing line as he was cleaned up by Ishan Pandey.

Royals vs Bolts Highlights: Lahiru Milantha’s 87 Lights Up NPL Finale

Lahiru Milantha ended up smearing 87 runs from just 49 balls with nine boundaries and four sixes to set up a remarkable stage for Janakpur Bolts’ victory.

The cricketer was eventually caught-and-bowled by Scott Kuggeleijn at the brink of the finish line, allowing Harsh Thaker (30* off 24) and Mayan Yadav to seal the deal in the final over with five wickets in hand.

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