Police, Bagmati record big wins in PM Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 25: Nepal Police Club and Bagmati Province recorded emphatic victories in the Prime Minister Cup National Cricket Tournament on Tuesday.

At the Mulpani ground, Police thrashed Nepal APF Club by 185 runs, while Bagmati defeated Gandaki Province by 170 runs in another fixture.

Police set a tournament record by posting 355 runs, the highest team total in PM Cup history. The previous best was APF’s 339 against Province 2 in the second edition in 2018. Chasing a daunting 356, APF were bowled out for 170 in 44 overs.

Nandan Yadav top-scored with an unbeaten 44, while Kamal Airee (35), Sundeep Jora (24), Puran BK (20), Aasif Sheikh (18) and captain Rohit Paudel (11) managed double figures. Lalit Rajbanshi claimed three wickets for Police, with Dinesh Kharel, Karan KC and Rashid Khan taking two apiece, and Sagar Dhakal one, to secure their side’s first win of the tournament.

Earlier, put in to bat, Police amassed 355 for nine in 50 overs, courtesy of four half-centuries. Shankar Rana led with 61, supported by opener Dinesh Kharel (60), Aarif Sheikh (50), Rashid Khan (44) and Dilshad Ali, who remained unbeaten on 51. APF’s Kamal Airee and Amar Routela picked up two wickets each, while captain Rohit Paudel, Nandan Yadav and Yuvraj Khatri claimed one apiece.

In the other match, Gandaki Province, chasing 295, collapsed to 124 all out in 31.5 overs. Arjun Kumal scored 74 and Subash Bhandari 29, but the rest failed to deliver. Bagmati’s bowlers dominated, with Rijan Dhakal taking three wickets, captain Sandeep Lamichhane and Ishan Pandey two each, and Dayanand Mandal and Subash Khatri one apiece.

Earlier, Bagmati posted 294 for eight in 50 overs. Vice-captain Ishan Pandey top-scored with 71, while opener Ashutosh Ghiraiya made 59, Shubh Kansakar 44, Uttam Thapamagar 30, Bibek Magar 27, captain Lamichhane an unbeaten 26, and Shivam Tiwari 18. Gandaki’s Kamal Pariyar took two wickets, with Bipin Khatri, Ankit Neupane, Cibrin Shrestha and Subash Bhandari claiming one each.