KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 8

Tribhuvan Army Club defeated Karnali by 140 runs to advance to the semi-finals of the Prime Minister's Cup National Cricket Tournament here today.

With their third win in four matches, TAC accumulated six points and finished as Group A runners-up behind table toppers Nepal APF Club, who earned seven points. Gandaki (five), Sudurpashchim (two) and Karnali (zero) crashed out from the group.

In a match between two already-qualified teams, Nepal Police Club hammered Madhesh Province by 191 runs to record their fourth straight victory and topped Group B table with eight points. Madhesh finished second with five points. Lumbini (four), Province-I (two) and Bagmati (one) crashed out from the group.

At the Mulpani grounds, TAC posted 254-6 in their allotted 50 overs before packing Karnali for 114 runs in 28.3 overs.

Openers Arjun Saud (20) and Anil Mandal (17) put up 42 runs in 13 overs before they were dismissed in the space of seven runs. Hari Chauhan and Kushal Malla then added 52 runs for the third wicket. Malla struck a four and four sixes in his 26-ball 35.

Chauhan and Rohit Paudel shared the 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Chauhan contributed 31 off 63 balls hitting two fours and a six, while Paudel hit three fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball 35. Bhim Sharki scored 29 off 35 balls with the help of three fours.

Skipper Binod Bhandari and Rajesh Pulami added 51 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket to help TAC post a commanding total. Bhandari remained unbeaten on 37 off 28 balls that included a four and three sixes, while Pulami hit three fours and a six in his 24- ball 28 not out. Prakash Jaishi took 3-63 for Karnali, while Dipendra Rawat grabbed two and Dinesh Adhikari bagged one wicket.

In reply, Bipin Rawal fought lonely battle for Karnali. Rawal hit six fours in his 48-ball 63, while others failed to make significant contributions. Arjun Gharti was the next best at 17, while Prakash Jaishi and Sandip Shahi contributed 11 runs each. Player-of-the-match Rohit Paudel was the pick of the TAC bowlers taking 3-15 from four overs, while Hari Chauhan and Shahab Alam grabbed two wickets each. Jitendra Mukhiya and Sushan Bhari bagged one apiece.

At the TU Stadium, NPC were bowled out for 273 runs in 49.1 overs before Madhesh were packed for a paltry 82 runs with more than 20 overs to spare. NPC were reduced to 45-3 before Amit Shrestha and Aarif Sheikh revived the innings with a 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Sheikh and skipper Dipendra Singh Airee then added 65 runs for the fifth wicket, while Airee and Dilip Nath shared a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Sheikh top scored with 73 off 86 balls with the help of eight fours and a six, while Shrestha struck nine boundaries in his 96-ball 65. Skipper Airee scored a quick fire 43-ball 51 that included three fours and a six, while Nath hit a four and three sixes in his 31-ball 41. Rajesh Yadav (3-47) and Rupesh Singh (3-49) shared six wickets for Madhesh, while Mohammad Aadil Ansari grabbed two wicket.

Bishal Patel and skipper Harishankar Shah bagged one wicket each.

In reply, Madhesh lost wickets at regular interval and they failed to build partnerships.

Mohammad Aadil Khan top scored with 42 off 76 balls that included three each fours and sixes. Ratan Raunak (11) and skipper Shah (10) were the only two other batsman who scored in double figures.

TAC bowler Kushal Bhurtel completed five-wicket haul taking 5-22 from 8.3 overs, and he was ably supported by Karan KC (3-19) and Rashid Khan (2-15). Bhurtel was named the player of the match for his efforts in dismissing Madhesh cheaply.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 9, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.