Defending champions Janakpur Bolts remained at the bottom after suffering their sixth defeat in seven matches, while Chitwan Rhinos remained in seventh place, Karnali Yaks in sixth place, and Pokhara Avengers in fifth place.
What you should know
Defending champions Janakpur Bolts have finished last in this season's Nepal Premier League (NPL). Janakpur lost to Karnali Yaks by 3 runs in the final match of the league stage on Sunday.
Karnali, who were invited to bat after losing the toss, scored 129 runs for the loss of 9 wickets at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur. In reply, Janakpur could only score 126 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
After Sanjay Krishnamurthy's brilliant performance, Janakpur needed 14 runs in the last over to win. It reached a 9-run situation in the last two balls. Captain Yan Nicole Lofty Eaton hit 4 fours in the fifth ball. But he scored only 1 run in the last ball. His partner Aditya Mahata was run out in an attempt to take the second run.
Janakpur's main players 'Marquee' Asif Sheikh and captain Anil Sah were out for ducks. After openers Maj Sadakat and Mayan Yadav were out for 9 runs, Krishnamurthy and Sangeeth Kore improved Janakpur's situation by putting on a 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Kore scored 25 runs in 32 balls, including 1 four. Krishnamurthy scored 51 runs in 39 balls. He was dismissed on the first ball of the last over and hit Dipendra Rawat for 3 consecutive sixes. He hit a total of 1 four and 4 sixes. Lofty Eaton remained unbeaten on 13 runs.
William Bosisto took 2 wickets from Karnali. He was named Player of the Match for 18 runs in 4 overs. Mark Watt took 1 wicket for 9 runs in 4 overs, keeping 1 maiden. Along with him, Pawan Saraf, Nandan Yadav and captain Sompal Kami took 1 wicket each.
Both teams were already out of the playoff race before this match. Janakpur remained at the bottom (eighth place) after suffering their sixth defeat in 7 matches. Karnali, who were third last season, surpassed Chitwan Rhinos in run rate to become sixth. Karnali won 2 and lost 5 of their 7 matches.
Earlier, opener Imran Sheikh scored the highest 33 runs from Karnali. Playing his first match in the tournament, he hit 1 four and 1 six in 32 balls. His opening pair Mark Watt was dismissed for 4 runs while Priyanka Panchal scored 16 runs including 3 fours in 18 balls.
Gulshan Jha was dismissed for 19 runs including 1 four in 20 balls, Bosisto 15, Najibullah Zadran 13, Saraf 1 and Arjun Gharti for 4 runs. Sompal remained unbeaten on 18 runs including 1 four and 1 six in 11 balls. Dipendra Rawat scored 2 runs.
Janakpur's Lalit Rajbanshi and Aditya Mahata took 2 wickets each. Lalit took 16 runs in 3 overs and Aditya in his only over conceded 9 runs. Kore, Anil and Sadakat took 1 wicket each.
