Sudurpaschim Royals defended a modest total of 120 to beat Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs in Match 21 of the Nepal Premier League 2026 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday, 10 November. Janakpur were bowled out for 93 in 19.5 overs, chasing 121, as Scott Kuggeleijn led a disciplined Royals bowling attack with three wickets for 13 runs.
It is Sudurpaschim's fourth win from six matches, and it takes them to eight points and second place in the NPL standings, behind table leaders Kathmandu Gorkhas on net run-rate. Janakpur, meanwhile, slipped to their fourth defeat in six games and remain fifth with four points.
McMullen and Ratnayake lift Royals to 120 after early wickets
Sudurpaschim won the toss and chose to bat first, but their innings never really got going. Openers Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari both made 10, and the Royals lost wickets at regular intervals, slipping to 70 for 5 in the 12th over after Dipendra Singh Airee fell for just 1.
Brandon McMullen top-scored with 33 off 23 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, before falling to Harry Tector. Tharindu Ratnayake then held the innings together with an unbeaten 27 off 28 balls, including one four and two sixes, and Aarif Sheikh added 11 as Sudurpaschim reached 120 for 9 in their 20 overs.
For Janakpur, Harmeet Singh was the standout bowler, taking 4 for 17 in his four overs. Harry Tector was almost as economical, conceding just 9 runs in four overs for one wicket, while Rahul Yadav, Aaditya Mahata and Abhishek Tiwari picked up one wicket each.
Kuggeleijn leads the bowling as Janakpur collapse to 93
Chasing 121, Janakpur never found a partnership to build on. Anil Sah fell for 2 in the third over, and by the end of the 10th over they were 42 for 4, with Harry Tector, Ryan Burl and Aaditya Mahata all back in the pavilion.
Trit Raj Das top-scored with 21 off 29 balls before being run out, and James Neesham made 20 off 25, but no other Janakpur batter reached double figures apart from Rahul Yadav, who smashed 11 off six balls at the end. Kuggeleijn removed Sah, Tector and Neesham on his way to figures of 3 for 13 in four overs, and he was named Player of the Match.
Ratnayake took 1 for 12, Dipendra Singh Airee claimed 1 for 15, Hemant Dhami took 1 for 16 and Ishan Pandey picked up 1 for 19, while Anil Kharel bowled Rahul Yadav off the final ball of the innings to complete the 27-run win.
What the result means
The win moves Sudurpaschim to second in the NPL standings with eight points from six matches, level on points with leaders Kathmandu Gorkhas but behind them on net run-rate. With the league stage heading towards its final week, the Royals are now well placed for a playoff spot.
Janakpur stay fifth with four points from six matches after their fourth defeat, and they will need to win their remaining league games to keep their playoff hopes alive. The next NPL fixture is Match 22 between Biratnagar Kings and Pokhara Avengers on Thursday, 12 November, after a scheduled rest day on 11 November.
Match summary
Brief scores: Sudurpaschim Royals 120/9 in 20 overs (Brandon McMullen 33 off 23, Tharindu Ratnayake 27 not out off 28, Aarif Sheikh 11; Harmeet Singh 4-17, Harry Tector 1-9) beat Janakpur Bolts 93 all out in 19.5 overs (Trit Raj Das 21, James Neesham 20, Rahul Yadav 11 off 6; Scott Kuggeleijn 3-13, Tharindu Ratnayake 1-12, Dipendra Singh Airee 1-15) by 27 runs. Sudurpaschim won the toss and elected to bat. Player of the Match: Scott Kuggeleijn.
FAQs
Who won NPL Match 21?
Sudurpaschim Royals beat Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on 10 November 2026.
What were the scores in the match?
Sudurpaschim Royals made 120 for 9 in 20 overs. Janakpur Bolts were bowled out for 93 in 19.5 overs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Scott Kuggeleijn was named Player of the Match after taking 3 for 13 in four overs and scoring 6 off three balls.
Who won the toss?
Sudurpaschim Royals won the toss and elected to bat first.
Where do Sudurpaschim stand on the NPL table now?
Sudurpaschim are second in the table with eight points from six matches, behind leaders Kathmandu Gorkhas on net run-rate. Janakpur are fifth with four points from six matches.
Conclusion
This was a win built on bowling discipline rather than batting firepower. Sudurpaschim's 120 looked well short at the halfway stage, but Kuggeleijn and the rest of the attack never let Janakpur settle, and the 27-run win takes the Royals up to second in the table. Janakpur will rue a chase that never got going — after Harmeet Singh's four wickets had kept the target to 121, their batters could not deliver, and their playoff hopes now hang by a thread.
Also on CricVic: Rashid Khan's fifty lifts Kathmandu Gorkhas to top of NPL table with 10-run win over Chitwan Rhinos
https://cricvic.com/blog/rashid-khan-fifty-kathmandu-gorkhas-beat-chitwan-rhinos-npl-match-20
Also on CricVic: Yuvraj Samra's century powers Pokhara Avengers to first NPL win as Karnali Yaks lose by 63 runs
https://cricvic.com/blog/yuvraj-samra-century-pokhara-avengers-beat-karnali-yaks-npl-match-19
Sources: CricTracker — Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts, 21st Match, live score
https://www.crictracker.com/live-scores/spr-vs-jkb-21st-match-t20-nepal-premier-league-10-nov-2026/
OnlineKhabar — Kuggeleijn leads bowling charge as Sudurpaschim overcome Janakpur
https://english.onlinekhabar.com/kuggeleijn-sudurpaschim-beat-janakpur.html
Nepal Samaj — Sudurpaschim Royals defeat Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs to climb to second in NPL standings