Dec 02, Kathmandu - Janakpur Bolts, the defending champions, have registered their first win in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), inspired by half-centuries from openers Maaz Sadaqat and Anil Kumar Shah. Sadakat and Anil scored half-centuries as Janakpur defeated Chitwan Rhinos by six wickets.

Janakpur achieved the target of 177 runs set by Chitwan at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday (Mangsir 16) by losing four wickets in 17.3 overs.

Opener Maaz Sadaqat top-scored with 63 runs in Janakpur's win. He hit 6 fours and 4 sixes in 30 balls. Anil added 61 runs. He hit 4 fours and 3 sixes in 36 balls. This is the first half-century for both the batsmen in the second edition of the tournament.

The two shared a 79-run partnership for the second wicket from 45-1 in 5.1 overs, taking Janakpur close to victory.

Another opener, Asif Sheikh, contributed 18 runs in 18 balls. Sadaqat shared a 45-run partnership with Asif for the first wicket in 5.1 overs.

Middle-order batsmen John Nicole Lofty Eaton scored 11 runs. Aditya Mahata remained unbeaten on 18 and Sanjay Krishnamurthi on five.

Chitwan's Sohail Tanvir and Kamal Singh Airee took one wicket each. Chitwan used eight bowlers, but the others could not take wickets.

Earlier, Chitwan, who had won the toss and elected to bat, had scored 176 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs.

Chitwan's opener Malan top-scored with 80 runs. He hit four fours and five sixes in 54 balls.

Malan and Arjun Saud had given Chitwan a strong start by putting on a century partnership of 112 runs for the first wicket in 13.4 overs.

Arjun, who played a half-century innings, scored 52 runs in 39 balls with four fours and three sixes. Captain Kushal Malla added 28 runs in 12 balls. Saif Zaib returned to the pavilion with seven and Ravi Bopara with three runs.

Janakpur's Maaz Sadakat, captain Anil Kumar Sah, Rupesh Singh and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton took one wicket each.

With the win, Janakpur, who have collected two points from five matches, have maintained their mathematical chances of reaching the playoffs. Janakpur had previously lost to Kathmandu Gorkhas by five wickets in the first match, Biratnagar Kings by nine runs in the second match, Pokhara Avengers by 25 runs in the third match and Sudurpaschim Royals by 6 wickets in the fourth match.

This is Chitwan's third defeat. Chitwan had previously won against Karnali Yaks and Biratnagar Kings by four and 48 runs respectively in the first and third matches. Chitwan had lost to Lumbini Lions and Kathmandu Gorkhas by 6 and 53 runs in the second and fourth matches.