Kathmandu: Rahul Yadav starred with the ball and Moeen Ali with the bat as Janakpur Bolts secured a convincing eight-wicket win over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Nepal Premier League on Thursday, opening their account after their second match.

Electing to bat first, Kathmandu were bowled out for 115 in 19.3 overs, with Rahul claiming four wickets. In reply, English batter Moeen Ali struck an unbeaten half-century as the Bolts reached 116-2 in 17.2 overs.

The Bolts had lost their opening match against Karnali Yaks by 19 runs, while Kathmandu were playing their first match of the campaign.

Chasing a modest target, opener Moeen remained unbeaten on 58 off 51 balls, hitting three boundaries and three sixes. He shared an unbroken 79-run partnership for the third wicket with Bangladeshi all-rounder Saif Hassan, who contributed 40 runs.

Saif struck a boundary and three sixes in his 39-ball knock.

Kathmandu made a poor start, losing top-order batters Smit Patel (13), Sam Heazlett (1), Harishankar Shah (1) and Rashid Khan (17). Rahul dismissed both openers, Patel and Heazlett.

Bhim Sharki was Kathmandu’s top scorer with 33 off 39 balls, including four boundaries. He was stumped by wicketkeeper Kusal Perera off the bowling of Lalit Rajbanshi.

Sumit Maharjan (10) was the only other Kathmandu batter to reach double figures.

The Bolts’ right-arm medium pacer Rahul wreaked havoc with the ball, claiming 4-31 in his four-over spell. Saif Hassan also impressed with the ball, taking 2-11 in four overs.