Army fix semi-final date with Police

By Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov 9: Tribhuvan Army Club advanced into the semi-final following its comfortable 140-run victory over Karnali Province at PM Cup One Day Cricket Tournament.

The victory over Karnali in the last match of Group B put Army in second place on the table to qualify for the semi-final. Army collected six points to trail behind leader APF Club, who stands at the top with seven points.

Army fixed the semi-final match against Group A winner Nepal Police Club on Friday at TU Cricket Ground on November 11. Police topped the table after a thumping 191-run win over Madhesh Province at TU Cricket Ground. Group B winner APF and Madhesh will meet in the first semi-finals at TU Cricket Ground on November 10.   

Police topped the Group A table with eight points whereas Madhesh advanced finishing runner-up with five points. Electing to bat first, Army posted a challenging total of 255 runs with the loss of six wickets in the 50 overs.

Paudel claimed three wickets as Army packed-up Karnali at 28.3 overs for 114 runs. Shahab Alam and Hari Chauhan also grabbed two wickets each for the winning side. 

Opener Bipin Rawal scored the highest 48 runs for Karnali. 

For Army, Skipper Binod Bhandari scored the highest 37 runs. Player of the match Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla added identical 35 runs on the scoreboard of Army. 

Meanwhile, Hari Chauhan (31), Bhim Karki (29) and Rajesh Pulami (28) were other chief contributors to the Army.  Prakash Jaishi claimed three wickets for Karnali. AT TU Cricket Ground, Kushal Bhurtel starred with five wickets as Police bundled out Madhesh in 29.3 overs for 82 runs. 

Karan KC also grabbed three wickets in the restriction of Madhesh. The middle order Mohammad Aadil Alam hit the highest 42 runs for Madhesh. 

Opting to bat first, Police scored 273 runs with the loss of all the wickets in the 49.1 overs.

Aarif Sheikh smashed the highest 73 runs whereas Amit Shrestha (65) and skipper Dipendra Singh Airee (51) chipped in with half-century knock to help Police collect a big total.

Rajesh Yadav and Rupesh Singh claimed three wickets for Madhesh Province.