Kathmandu: Defending champions Janakpur Bolts finished at the bottom of the table a three-run defeat against Karnali Yaks in the final league match of the Nepal Premier League T20 at the TU Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur on Sunday.

In a dead-rubber clash between the two bottom-placed teams, the Yaks posted 129-9 after being sent in to bat and then restricted the Bolts to 126-7 despite a half-century from Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanjay Krishnamurthi.

The result lifted the Yaks to sixth place, finishing above Chitwan Rhinos on net run rate, with both teams ending on four points from two wins and five losses. But the defending champions Bolts endured a disastrous campaign, finishing last in the eight-team field with just two points from a lone win and six defeats.

Pokhara Avengers, Yaks, Chitwan Rhinos and Bolts were already eliminated from playoff contention, finishing fifth to eighth respectively. Sudurpaschim Royals, Biratnagar Kings, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Lumbini Lions had secured the top four spots to qualify for the playoffs.

The Royals and Kings will contest Qualifier 1 for a direct place in the final, while the Gorkhas and Lions will meet in the Eliminator. The loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will face off in Qualifier 2 for the remaining final berth.

For the Yaks, opener Imran Sheikh top-scored with 33 off 32 balls, hitting a boundary and a six. Gulshan Jha (19 off 20), Priyank Panchal (16 off 18), William Bosisto (15 off 12), Najibullah Zadran (13 off 13) and captain Sompal Kami (18 off 11) all made useful contributions.

Bolts spinner Lalit Rajbanshi claimed 2-16 from his three overs, while Aaditya Mahata picked up 2-9 in a single over.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi

In reply, the Bolts’ top order crumbled quickly, slipping to 29-4 before Krishnamurthi mounted a fightback with a composed 51 off 39 balls, featuring one boundary and four sixes. He was dismissed off the first delivery of the final over, caught by Gulshan Jha off Nandan Yadav.

Krishnamurthi shared a 75-run fourth-wicket stand with compatriot Sangeeth Cooray, who scored 25 off 32—the second-highest score of the innings. Stand-in captain Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton remained unbeaten on 13 off 9, but the Bolts still fell four runs short of the target.