KATHMANDU, JANUARY 13
Nepal APF Club defeated Gandaki Province by two runs to register their third straight victory in the Prime Minister Cup T20 National Cricket Tournament here today.
Batting first, APF were bowled out for 92 runs in 18.4 overs before Gandaki reached 90-7. Gandaki needed six runs from the last six balls to win the match but they lost two wickets and could score just three runs in the over bowled by Kishore Mahato. With their third straight win, APF accumulated six points and are at the top of Group B, while Gandaki faced their second consecutive loss.
Pradeep Airee top scored with 17 runs for APF, while Aasif Sheikh (16), Deepak Bohara (15) and Sumit Maharjan (12) contributed in double figures. Kamal Pariyar took three wickets for Gandaki and Bishal Poudel grabbed two.
In reply, Gandaki failed to reach the target despite 36 runs from Bipin Karki and 29 from Bidhan Shrestha. Other batters failed to score in double figures. Kamal Singh Airee took three wickets for APF and Kishore Mahato bagged two.
In another match, Sudurpashchim Province defeated Karnali by 47 runs. Sudurpashchim posted 153-8 in their allotted 20 overs before packing Karnali for 106 with five balls remaining.
Sudurpashchim recorded their first win, while Karnali faced their second loss. Arjun Saud top scored for Sudurpashchim with 32 runs, while Basanta Karki contributed 28. Dipak Bohara (25) and Khadak Bohara (22) also chipped in valuable runs.
Prakash Jaisi claimed three wickets for Karnali, while Diwan Pun and Rabindra Shahi grabbed two each.
In reply, Karnali were all out cheaply despite 35 from skipper Rabindra Chahi and 30 from Arjun Gharti. Anup Kunwar (13) was the only other batsman who scored in double figures for Karnali.
Sher Malla was the pick of the Sudurpashchim bowlers taking 4-15, while Hemanta Dhami grabbed two wickets.
Also, Lumbini beat Province-II by 42 runs for their first win. Lumbini amassed 161-8 in 20 overs before restricting Province-II for 119- 9. Dev Kamal scored 54 off 34 balls, while Bashir Ahmad and Sandeep Rajaili contributed 30 each for Lumbini.
Rupesh Singh and Bibek Yadav took two wickets each for Province-II.
In reply, Bibek Yadav top scored for Province-II with 36 runs, while Harishankar Jha and Santosh Karki contributed 14 each. Anil Kharel took 5 -13 from four overs for Lumbini. Province-II faed their second loss in three matches. The Group A match between Tribhuvan Army Club and Province-I was abandoned due to wet outfield and both the teams earned one point each.
TAC have three points from three matches with just one game to play, while NPC are at the top with four points. Sudurpashchim and Karnali have two points each, while Province-I have one from two matches.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 14, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
