Rewind: Lahiru Milantha's 87 wins Janakpur Bolts the first NPL title

With Janakpur Bolts rebuilding for Season 3 and Jimmy Neesham back in their colours, we look back at the night they became the first champions of the Nepal Premier League: 21 December 2024, in front of about 14,000 people at Kirtipur.

Sudurpaschim Royals won the toss and batted. Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari gave them a fast start, and at 143 for 3 in the 15th over a total above 200 looked possible. Zaib made 69 from 43 balls and Bhandari 41 from 31.

Then the innings fell apart. Janakpur's bowlers took six wickets for 41 runs at the end. Kishore Mahato finished with 3 for 25 and Mohammad Mohsin with 3 for 40, while Lalit Rajbanshi conceded only 15 runs in his four overs. Sudurpaschim ended on 184 for 9.

Janakpur's chase belonged to Sri Lanka's Lahiru Milantha. He made 87 from 49 balls with nine fours and four sixes, and put on a fast opening stand with Aasif Sheikh, who made 33 from 19 balls.

Milantha was out in the 16th over, caught and bowled by Scott Kuggeleijn, and a run-out and Neesham's dismissal for 4 made the finish tense. Harsh Thaker kept his head with 30 not out from 24 balls, and with Mayan Yadav he took Janakpur over the line.

Janakpur Bolts reached 185 for 5 in 19.2 overs and won by five wickets with four balls to spare. Milantha was named player of the match. Sudurpaschim's Saif Zaib, with 275 runs and 12 wickets across the season, was player of the tournament.

The 2024 final set the tone for the league: a packed ground, a high-scoring game and a close finish, watched by millions on YouTube. Since then Janakpur have gone from champions to last place, and Sudurpaschim have lost another final. Season 3 gives both a chance to rewrite the story. Janakpur start against Karnali Yaks on 27 October, and Sudurpaschim face the champions, Lumbini Lions, the night before.