Kathmandu: Defending champions Janakpur Bolts’ poor form in the Nepal Premier League T20 continued as they slumped to their third straight defeat, losing to the Pokhara Avengers by 25 runs in their third match at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Thursday.

Electing to bat first, the Avengers posted 155–6, led by an unbeaten half-century from Sumeet Verma. With the ball, Bipin Khatri starred for Pokhara, claiming four wickets—including two in his opening over—as they restricted the Bolts at 130–9.

The result handed the Avengers their first win after three matches, lifting them two spots to sixth in the standings. The Bolts, meanwhile, remain winless after three outings and have slipped to the bottom of the eight-team table.

Verma, the India-born Uganda all-rounder, struck an unbeaten 50 off 29 balls, hitting two boundaries and four sixes. Openers Dinesh Kharel (38 off 38) and Adam Rossington (24 off 17) provided a solid start with a 61-run partnership.

Kharel hit two fours and three sixes while Rossington added three boundaries. Trith Raj Das also contributed 29 off 28, including two fours.
For Janakpur, Sanjay Krishnamurthi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3–21 from four overs.

Chasing 156, the Bolts relied on lower-order batter Wayne Parnell, who scored a composed 50 off 38 balls before retiring hurt with four deliveries remaining. He hit two fours and four sixes before leaving the field due to a leg injury.

Krishnamurthi added 25 off 20, striking two fours and a six, while opener Maas Sadaqat scored 20 off 14. Lalit Rajbanshi remained unbeaten on 10 off 11.

Pokhara’s Khatri was economical, conceding just 15 runs in his four overs, while player-of-the-match Verma chipped in with 2–19 from three overs.