Holders Police fix final date with Army at Jay Trophy

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 28:  Defending champions Nepal Police Club and Tribhuwan Army Club will meet in the final of the Jay Trophy Men’s Elite Cup after contrasting results in their concluding league fixtures.

Police eased past Bagmati Province with an eight-wicket victory at TU Cricket Ground on Friday, while Army were held to a draw by Nepal APF Club at Upper Mulpani. Despite the stalemate, Army topped the table with 66 points from one win and two draws, edging Police, who finished on 65.5 points after two wins and one defeat.

The final, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed to 5–7 April. The Cricket Association cited next week’s House of Representatives elections and upcoming World Cricket League 2 fixtures as reasons for the rescheduling.

APF secured third place with 53 points from one win and two defeats, while Bagmati finished bottom with two losses and a draw. The Jay Trophy features the top four teams from the PM Cup National One-Day tournament in a two-day format.

At TU, Police comfortably chased Bagmati’s modest second-innings target of 89, reaching the mark in the third session for the loss of two wickets. Sohail Kunwar (35 not out) and Karan KC (21 not out) guided the side home, with Shankar Rana adding 27. Bagmati’s Rijhan Dhakal and Sandeep Lamichhane claimed a wicket apiece.

Bagmati, following on after Police’s 149-run first-innings lead, were dismissed for 247. Ishan Pandey top-scored with 80, Bibek Magar made 45, and Surya Tamang remained unbeaten on 30. Lalit Rajbanshi starred for Police with figures of 5–84 from 26.2 overs, while Rashid Khan took three wickets and Karan KC one.

Earlier, Bagmati had been bowled out for 185 in 53.5 overs after electing to bat. From 84–8, Bipin Acharya’s unbeaten 46, Tamang’s 24 and Gautam KC’s 21 lifted them to a respectable total. Pandey had earlier contributed 41. Police’s Karan KC claimed 4–27 from 13 overs, with Rajbanshi taking three and Sagar Dhakal, Rashid Khan and Kushal Bhurtel one apiece.

In reply, Police declared their first innings at 334–8 after 70 overs, securing a commanding lead. Kushal Bhurtel fell just short of a century with 96, while Arif Sheikh (53), Dilsad Ali (51), Rana (48) and Amit Shrestha (39) all chipped in. Karan KC remained unbeaten on 29.

At Mulpani, Army were in control but forced to settle for a second draw. Having taken a 112-run lead in the first innings, they declared their second innings at 268–8, setting APF a daunting 380-run target.

Basir Ahamad struck an unbeaten 101, with captain Binod Bhandari (63), Imran Sheikh (41) and Sompal Kami (29) making useful contributions.

APF, however, held firm, closing on 228–7 to deny Army victory.

Lokesh Bam top-scored with 64, while captain Rohit Paudel (35), Dipak Bohara (32), Aasif Sheikh (31) and Sumit Maharjan (31 not out) offered resistance. Naren Saud claimed five wickets for Army, with Shahab Alam and Pawan Karki taking one apiece. 

Paudel picked up three wickets for APF, while Puran BK claimed two. Army had earlier posted 252–9 in their first innings before bowling APF out for just 140.