Quick Facts
- Match
- Match 21 — Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts, 10 November 2026, TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
- Result
- Sudurpaschim Royals 120/9 beat Janakpur Bolts 93 all out (19.5 overs) by 27 runs
- McMullen
- 33 off 23 balls; praised team unity, energy and fearless batting on slow pitches
- Harmeet
- 4/17 with the ball; said Janakpur's batting failed and the pitch was not to blame
- Playoff picture
- Sudurpaschim second on 8 points and into the playoffs; Janakpur fifth on 4 points, one match left vs Chitwan
Brandon McMullen put Sudurpaschim Royals' defence of 120 down to unity and energy, and Janakpur Bolts captain Harmeet Singh refused to blame the pitch after his side were bowled out for 93 in Nepal Premier League Match 21 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The Royals won by 27 runs, a third straight victory that carried them into the playoffs, while the Bolts were left needing to win their last league match to keep their season alive.
McMullen: unity and energy won it
McMullen, who top-scored with 33 off 23 balls, said defending such a small total had not been easy. The Royals had to lean on the things that have carried them through the season: trust between the players, aggressive thinking and energy in the field. 'We enjoy ourselves together in the dressing room. On the field, we trust each other and play with great energy. That unity has been the basis of our success for the last few seasons,' he said.
The 33 took McMullen's tally for the season to 124 runs, and it was the innings that gave the Royals something to defend. He struck two fours and two sixes, and his stand with Tharindu Ratnayake, who finished unbeaten on 27 off 28 balls, was the partnership that kept the innings from falling apart completely.
Slow pitches, fearless cricket
McMullen was frank about the conditions. Most of the pitches in the tournament have been slow, he said, and the ball has not been coming onto the bat. In that situation, his answer has been to play without fear and to put pressure back on the bowlers rather than wait for the bad ball.
The Royals needed that approach. Both openers, Binod Bhandari and Saif Zaib, made 10 each, Ishan Pandey fell for three and captain Dipendra Singh Airee for one, and at that point the innings was wobbling. McMullen and Ratnayake rebuilt it, Aarif Sheikh added 11, and the total reached 120 for nine. Harmeet, bowling against his former team, took four for 17.
Praise for Kuggeleijn and Airee, and the catch that sealed it
McMullen singled out two teammates. He praised Scott Kuggeleijn's bowling in the powerplay and Airee's fielding, and his words for his captain were generous. 'Dipendra is one of the best fielders in the world. His batting still has room to improve, but his energy on the field lifts the team,' he said.
Kuggeleijn finished with three for 13 and was named player of the match. His third wicket was the one McMullen enjoyed most: James Neesham, caught by McMullen for 20 off 25 balls in the 19th over, a dismissal that ended Janakpur's biggest partnership of the innings, 20 runs with Lalit Rajbanshi, and left the Bolts nine down. McMullen said he was happy to hold the catch at such a crucial moment.
The Royals now turn their attention to their next match, against Kathmandu Gorkhas, with McMullen saying the side's target is to win the title this season.
Harmeet: the pitch was not the problem
Harmeet's assessment was blunt. 'Chasing 120, the pitch was not difficult. We simply did not bat well. Two of the top five were run out. We also lost wickets quickly against the fast bowlers,' he said, refusing to let the surface take the blame for the defeat.
The chase never got going. Trit Raj Das top-scored with 21 off 29 balls, Neesham made 20, Aaditya Mahata 10 and Rahul Yadav 11 off six, but no partnership passed 20 and the Bolts were bowled out for 93 in 19.5 overs. It was their third straight defeat, and their batting has now failed them in three games in a row.
Young players feeling the pressure
Harmeet said Janakpur's young and local players have the talent but are still short of experience in playing under pressure. In a packed ground, with the crowd behind every ball, he said the team has to be clearer with each other about communication and about decisions on running between the wickets.
The ground was full on Tuesday, the day before Bhai Tika, and the crowd sang Deusi-Bhailo songs between the cricket, turning the match into a festival occasion. All tickets for the game had sold out by Sunday, and the atmosphere was everything a big night of NPL cricket could have wanted — except, for Janakpur, the result.
A batting order that keeps changing
Harmeet also pointed to the churn around his team. Foreign players have been coming and going through the season, he said, and that has forced changes to the batting order. A new player arriving in the side finds it hard to perform well in his first match, and the Bolts have felt that instability at the top of the order. Ireland's Harry Tector came into the side for this match and took a wicket, but the batting never settled.
The one area Harmeet was happy with was the bowling. He was satisfied with his attack, and his own four for 17 against his former team took him to 11 wickets for the season, the most in the tournament. The bowlers have performed well all season, he said, but the batting and fielding have let the side down in the matches that mattered.
What the result means for the playoffs
The win lifted Sudurpaschim to second place with eight points from six matches, level with Kathmandu Gorkhas at the top but behind them on net run rate. Both sides are now into the playoffs. Janakpur stayed fifth on four points, with one league match left, against Chitwan Rhinos.
Harmeet said the playoff chance is still alive, and the target is simple. 'We had to win this match. Now, instead of waiting on other teams' results, our target is to win our last match and finish the tournament well,' he said.
The league continues on Thursday, 12 November, with two matches: Pokhara Avengers against Biratnagar Kings, and Karnali Yaks against Lumbini Lions. Sudurpaschim's next match is against Kathmandu, while Janakpur finish their league campaign against Chitwan.
How Match 21 was won
Sudurpaschim posted 120 for nine in their 20 overs. McMullen's 33 off 23 led the way, Ratnayake was unbeaten on 27 off 28, Aarif Sheikh made 11 and both openers made 10. Harmeet took four for 17, and Harry Tector, Rahul Yadav, Aaditya Mahata and Abishek Tiwari took one wicket each.
Janakpur, chasing 121, were bowled out for 93 in 19.5 overs. Das made 21 off 29, Neesham 20 off 25, Mahata 10 and Rahul Yadav 11 off six. Kuggeleijn took three for 13, and Hemant Dhami, Ratnayake, Airee, Anil Kharel and Ishan Pandey took one wicket each. Rahul Yadav was the last man out, bowled by Kharel on the fifth ball of the final over, and the Royals had their third win in a row.
FAQs
What did Brandon McMullen say after Sudurpaschim beat Janakpur?
McMullen said unity, aggressive thinking and energy in the field were the reasons Sudurpaschim could defend 120 against Janakpur. He praised Scott Kuggeleijn's powerplay bowling and captain Dipendra Singh Airee's fielding, said he was happy to take James Neesham's catch at a crucial moment, and said the Royals are aiming to win the title this season.
What did Harmeet Singh say about Janakpur's batting?
Harmeet said the pitch was not to blame and his side simply did not bat well chasing 120. He pointed to two run-outs among the top five, quick wickets against the fast bowlers, and a lack of experience under pressure among the young local players. He was satisfied with Janakpur's bowling.
What was the result of Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts in NPL Match 21?
Sudurpaschim Royals beat Janakpur Bolts by 27 runs in NPL Match 21 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Sudurpaschim scored 120 for nine in 20 overs, and Janakpur were bowled out for 93 in 19.5 overs chasing 121.
What does the result mean for the NPL playoffs?
Sudurpaschim moved to second place with eight points from six matches and are into the playoffs alongside Kathmandu Gorkhas, who lead the table on net run rate. Janakpur stayed fifth on four points with one league match left, against Chitwan Rhinos, and must win it to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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