The Janakpur Bolts, the reigning champions, are set to meet the high-flying Chitwan Rhinos in the 20th Match of the Nepal Premier League 2025 on the 2nd of December at Kirtipur.
The match is going to be a real fight between the two names about whose playoff dreams get stronger with the much-needed points from the league. The Janakpur Bolts, last year’s winners, are looking to keep the winning streak going, while the Chitwan Rhinos have stayed among the top teams with their consistent performance throughout the tournament.
This rivalry is not only about winning the match but also about which one gets closer to the top four. The game at Kirtipur will be a war of attrition, with batting talent and bowling discipline being the major drivers of both teams competing.
Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
- Matches Played: 1
- Chitwan Rhinos Won: 0
- Janakpur Bolts Won: 1
Match Details
Details: Janakpur Bolts vs Chitwan Rhinos, 20th Match
Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Date and Time: 2 dec–11:00 PM
Pitch Report
Bowlers at Kirtipur do get some help from the pitch, especially the seamers who take advantage of the slight movement that the moist soil creates. But a well-equipped batsman can still contribute to the team’s score, and the total score will be nice. The first innings’ average score for this ground is 150, which is expected to be the least for this match.
Match Analysis: Janakpur Bolts vs Chitwan Rhinos
Janakpur Bolts’ Strengths
Janakpur’s dual-threat player Sanjay Krishnamurthy demonstrates exceptional all-round capability with 97 runs and five crucial wickets. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s explosive 39-run innings against Sudurpaschim shows lower-order batting potential and match-finishing ability. Their competitive 145-run total on difficult surfaces highlights resilience and the ability to construct respectable totals despite opening-order struggles and challenging conditions.
Janakpur Bolts’ Weaknesses
Winless Janakpur occupies the bottom position with four consecutive defeats, revealing critical team inconsistencies. Early-order batsmen, including Maaz Sadaqat and Aasif Sheikh, consistently fail to deliver substantial contributions, creating batting collapses. Weak bowling support beyond Krishnamurthy exposes fragile attack combinations, unable to defend modest totals effectively or contain opposition batsmen during crucial phases.
Chitwan Rhinos’ Strengths
Ravi Bopara leads Chitwan’s batting charge with an impressive 204 runs, providing consistent scoring and anchor performances. Ranjit Kumar’s seven-wicket haul demonstrates exceptional bowling control and match-winning potential throughout the tournament. Their recent dominant 53-run victory against Kathmandu showcases balanced team performance and the ability to execute plans effectively across formats.
Chitwan Rhinos’ Weaknesses
Chitwan’s inconsistent middle-order batting proved vulnerable against quality bowling, as demonstrated in their loss to Kathmandu. Key players like Deepak Bohara and Kushal Malla underperformed significantly, creating batting collapses during crucial innings phases. Defensive frailties against attacking bowling combinations expose potential match-losing patterns requiring urgent rectification and strategic improvements.
Predicted Playing 11s
Janakpur Bolts: Aasif Sheikh (c, wk), Anil Kumar Sah, Lahiru Milanth, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Shubh Kansakar, Mayan Yadav, Sachin Bhatt
Chitwan Rhinos: Kushal Malla (c), Bipin Rawal (wk), Ravi Bopara, Deepak Bohara, Gautam KC, Rijan Dhakal, Dev Khanal, Sohail Tanvir, Kamal Singh Airee, Saif Zaib, Arjun Saud.
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