Sumeet Verma stars as Pokhara Avengers clinch 25-run win over Janakpur Bolts

Pokhara Avengers produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat Janakpur Bolts by 25 runs in the 14th match of the Nepal Premier League 2025 at the TU Cricket Ground on Thursday.

A superb all-round show from Sumeet Verma — a fluent 50 off 29 balls* followed by 2/19 with the ball — anchored Pokhara to a competitive total and later ensured Janakpur never quite got close in the chase.

Electing to bat first, Pokhara's opening pair provided a steady foundation.

Dinesh Kharel top-scored early with a composed 38 off 38, rotating strike consistently and finding boundaries when needed. At the other end, Adam Rossington played the aggressor's role, hammering 24 off 17 (3 fours, 1 six) before falling in the eighth over.

After the powerplay ended at 45/0, Pokhara crossed: 50 in 6.4 overs and 100 in 15.4 overs.

The momentum settled when Kushal Bhurtel departed early, but a key partnership between Sumeet Verma and Trit Raj Das rebuilt the innings.
Verma batted with exceptional calmness before switching gears late, ensuring Pokhara finished strongly. His unbeaten 50 (29)* included crisp drives and clean hitting straight down the ground.

Das chipped in with a valuable 29 off 28, supporting Verma in a 55-run stand that lifted the Avengers to 155/6.

Janakpur's bowling effort was led by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who claimed 3/21, while Anil Sah and Bipin Khatri picked one wicket each.

Chasing 156, Janakpur suffered immediate setbacks.

Pokhara struck twice inside the first three overs, removing both Aasif Sheikh and Shubh Kansakar cheaply.

The Bolts reached 50 in 9.1 overs, but by then had already lost four wickets, leaving the middle order under pressure.

Wayne Parnell produced a gritty, well-paced half-century — an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls with four towering sixes — but lacked support from the other end.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi contributed 25 off 20, offering the only meaningful partnership of the innings.

Janakpur's chase milestones:

• Drinks: 59/6 in 10 overs
• 100 in 16.6 overs
• 130/8 in 20 overs

Pokhara's bowlers, meanwhile, displayed discipline and patience. Bipin Khatri delivered the spell of the evening with 4/15 from 4 overs, dismantling Janakpur's middle order.

Sumeet Verma complemented his batting masterclass with 2/19, while Aakash Chand and Sagar Dhakal kept the pressure tight at the death.

Janakpur eventually finished on 130/8, handing Pokhara a comfortable 25-run victory.