Kathmandu, Nov. 27 -- Pokhara Avengers registered their first victory of the Nepal Premier League on Thursday, defeating defending champions Janakpur Bolts by 25 runs at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Chasing 156, Janakpur never recovered from early blows and finished on 130-9 after 20 overs. The loss marked their third consecutive defeat, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread despite four matches still remaining.

Pokhara's left-arm spinner Bipin Khatri triggered the collapse in the very first over, removing Aasif Sheikh for a duck and bowling Subash Khakurel for four, shortly after Pakistan's Maaz Sadaqat had launched the innings with a first-ball six. Fellow spinner Sumit Verma tightened the grip in the fou...