Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts Match Preview – NPL Season 3 Match 14

Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts match preview for NPL Season 3 Match 14: the Thursday day game at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Thursday 5 November at 12:30 PM NST, Rohit Paudel's Lumbini against Harmeet Singh's Janakpur. Janakpur have won two of three; Lumbini have won one and had one washed out, so the form lines below come with that gap — and with a graphic XI that differs in several places from Janakpur's Match 9 side.

Match Details

Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts Match Preview: Thursday Day Game at Kirtipur

Lumbini arrive with two games behind them: the opener against Sudurpaschim in Match 1, won by 7 wickets, and the fixture against Chitwan in Match 7, abandoned without a toss. Janakpur arrive with three games behind them: the opener against Karnali in Match 3, lost by 19 runs, the win over Kathmandu in Match 5, by 8 wickets, and the win over Pokhara in Match 9, by 9 runs. So the form lines here point one way, and Thursday's game is the day's fixture at Kirtipur.

Two points go to the winner, and with only the top four of eight reaching the playoffs from seven league games each, an early win carries real weight. There is no verified head-to-head record for this fixture to lean on, so this preview rests on Lumbini's win and washout, Janakpur's two wins, the two captains, and the daytime conditions at Kirtipur.

Lumbini Lions Preview: Rohit Paudel's Side, Third Game In

Captain Rohit Paudel leads Lumbini under coach Tinu Yohannan. The pre-match graphic XI is built around Paudel, wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh and overseas opener D'Arcy Short.

Lumbini's Season 3 story so far is a win and a washout. Against Sudurpaschim in Match 1, Lumbini chased 87 and won by 7 wickets in 9.5 overs, with Short scoring 40 off 18 and Aasif Sheikh 32 off 25. Against Chitwan in Match 7, no ball was bowled and the points were shared. That is the form line Janakpur must deal with: defending champions who have not lost a completed game yet, and a batting order that chased a small total with room to spare.

Janakpur Bolts Preview: Harmeet Singh's Side, Fourth Game In

Captain Harmeet Singh leads Janakpur under coach Chanderpaul. The pre-match graphic XI is built around Harmeet, wicketkeeper Anil Sah and overseas all-rounder James Neesham.

Janakpur's Season 3 form is two wins from three. Against Karnali in Match 3, Janakpur were bowled out for 113 chasing 132 and lost by 19 runs. Against Kathmandu in Match 5, Janakpur chased 115 and won by 8 wickets with 16 balls left, with Moeen Ali unbeaten on 58 off 51. Against Pokhara in Match 9, Janakpur defended 147 for 7 and won by 9 runs, with Trit Raj Das scoring 61 off 55. Two wins, one defeat, four points and second place after Match 11. That is the form line Lumbini must deal with: a settled side that has already won chasing and defending.

Key Battles

Rohit Paudel against Harmeet Singh comes first: the two captains, and the two most important wickets in the game. Paudel leads the defending champions; Harmeet leads the side second in the table. If either captain falls early, his side loses its anchor and its leader in one wicket.

Second, Sundeep Jora against Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi: the graphic's other named duel, batter against bowler, and a contest that could decide the middle overs. Third, the middle overs themselves: Lumbini's chase in Match 1 was finished inside ten overs, while Janakpur's wins in Matches 5 and 9 were built on control through the middle — the side that holds its nerve between overs seven and fifteen takes this game.

Players to Watch: NPL Season 3 Match 14

Lumbini: Rohit Paudel (captain), Sundeep Jora (batter, named in the graphic's key battle) and D'Arcy Short (overseas opener, 40 off 18 in the Match 1 win).

Janakpur: Harmeet Singh (captain), Lalit Rajbanshi (bowler, named in the graphic's key battle) and James Neesham (overseas all-rounder).

Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts Head-to-Head: No Verified Record

No verified head-to-head record is available for this fixture, so none is claimed here. It is also their first meeting in Season 3: Lumbini have played Matches 1 and 7, Janakpur have played Matches 3, 5 and 9, and the two sides have not met yet this season.

With seven league games each and only the top four reaching the playoffs, an early win matters more than any past meeting would. Thursday's game is decided by current form, not by history.

Venue and Conditions: TU Ground, Kirtipur

All 32 Season 3 matches are at the TU Ground in Kirtipur. The record book: the highest total here is 220 for 6 (18 November 2025), the lowest Janakpur's 51 all out, and the highest individual score Mark Watt's 114 not out.

The 12:30 PM start makes this a day game: it is played in daylight throughout, so the daytime-dew factor of the day-night games does not apply here. The pre-match graphic expects a slower track with good assistance for spinners and medium-pacers, and a clear sky.

Tactical Outlook: Day Game, Bat First or Chase?

In a day game, the toss matters less than it does in the day-night games. The game starts at 12:30 PM NST and is played in daylight throughout, so there is no late dew to favour the chase. The captain winning the toss, about 12:00 PM NST, makes the call on a fresh daytime pitch, and the first innings sets the tone either way.

The powerplay is the first battleground; the second is overs seven to fifteen, where Janakpur's settled attack tries to squeeze Lumbini's middle order — the same middle order that finished the Match 1 chase inside ten overs.

Expected Playing XI

Probable XIs, confirmed at the toss. See our predicted playing XIs.

The graphic XIs are reproduced exactly as published; the confirmed XIs at the toss may differ.

Full coverage sits on the match page.

Where to Watch Live

In Nepal: Himalaya Sports TV. Elsewhere: NetTV (worldwide OTT rights; Nepal pass Rs 400, Middle East Rs 600, USA/Europe/Australia/Japan/Korea US$10). In India: FanCode Tour Pass (₹89), plus Star Sports Select 2/2 HD on TV in India and South Asia. Details in our live streaming; ball-by-ball scores free on the live scores.

Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts – Who will win?

14th Match · 5 Nov | Thu · 12:30 PM NPT. Back your team — one vote per device, and you can switch any time.

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