Army clinch third PM Cup title

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 18: Tribhuwan Army Club have won the Men’s Prime Minister (PM) Cup National One-Day Cricket Tournament 2026 on Friday.

Army remained unbeaten throughout the event to claim the PM Cup title for the third time. 

In their bid for a treble, Army secured a five-wicket victory over Sudurpaschim Province in the final held in Birgunj.

Army have reached all eight finals of the competition but succeeded in lifting the title on only three occasions. 

They shared the trophy with Nepal Police Club in the inaugural edition in 2017 and bagged their second title in the 2020/21 edition, defeating APF Club by 33 runs.

Of the nine editions, Police have won four titles, while APF Club have three.

This is the first time the PM Cup has seen a provincial team reach the final, breaking the dominance of departmental sides. 

However, the departmental team prevailed in the decider. 

Chasing a target of 162 runs at Narayani Cricket Ground, Army eased to victory in 33.3 overs, losing five wickets.

Army stumbled to 56/4 in 10.3 overs, but Imran Sheikh and Basir Ahmad built the foundation for victory.

Captain Binod Bhandari (2) and Bhim Sharki (4) were dismissed in the third over with only 15 runs on the board. 

Army then lost opener Trit Raj Das and Kushal Malla for 56 runs. 

Das contributed 31 off 32 balls, while Malla chipped in with a run-a-ball 17 before departing in the 10th and 11th overs respectively.

Sheikh and Ahmad, then, steadied the innings with a crucial 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Sheikh guided Army home, remaining unbeaten on 46 runs off 82 balls, including two sixes and two fours. 

Ahmad added 45 runs from 56 balls, with four boundaries. Arjun Saud remained not out on 7.

Sudurpaschim’s Hemant Dhami claimed two wickets, while Bikash Aagri, Sher Malla and Ashok Dhami picked up one each.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim, having won the toss and chosen to bat first, were bowled out for just 161 runs in 39.4 overs.

Their batting faltered from the start, with the top five batters struggling against disciplined Army bowling. 

Opener Abhishek Pal (9) and Khadak Bohora (1), along with Naren Bhatta (1), Raju Rijal (7) and Dipak Bohora (7), all fell cheaply. 

At 31 runs, Sudurpaschim had already lost five wickets.

Kiran Thagunna and Narayan Joshi added 62 runs for the sixth wicket. Narayan was dismissed for 29, while Kiran scored 35. 

Ashok Dhami top-scored with 43, and Hemant Dhami contributed 16. Seven of their batters failed to reach double figures.

For Army, Akash Chand was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/31 with one maiden in his nine-over spell. 

While Chand dismantled the top order, Shahab Alam did the damage to the lower middle order with figures of 3/55, including one maiden in his 10 overs. 

Basir Ahmad, who was named Player of the Final, also claimed two wickets, while Kushal Malla took one.

Santosh Yadav of Lumbini Province was declared Player of the Series. 

In nine innings, he scored 265 runs at an average of 33.12 and took 21 wickets with an economy rate of 3.92. 

He ranked 10th on the top scorers’ chart and fourth among wicket-takers.

Sudurpaschim’s Hemant Dhami was named Best Bowler with 27 wickets from 10 innings, while Gandaki’s Arjun Kumal was adjudged Best Batter with 504 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries, becoming the first player to surpass 500 runs.

Aashik Baitha of Madhesh Province was named Emerging Player of the Tournament.