Kathmandu, January 10

Nepal Police Club and Tribhuvan Army Club registered wins on the opening day matches of the second Ruslan Cup Twenty20 Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

In the first match, NPC defeated Himalayan Cricket Academy by 81 runs. Batting first, NPC scored 183-6 in their allotted 20 overs before packing Himalayan for 102 runs with two balls to spare. Sunil Dhamala top scored for NPC with 54 off 56 balls that included three boundaries and two sixes, while Kushal Bhurtel played a fiery 11-ball 33 hitting three each fours and sixes. Dhamala was named the man-of-the-match.

Opener Dilip Nath struck three fours and a six in his 25-ball 26, while skipper Manjeet Shrestha (12) and Siddhant Lohani (12 not out) and Dipendra Airee (10) also scored in double figures. For Himalayan, Kamal Airee, Prakash Bist, Avinash Adhikari, Arun Airee and Pawan Karki took one wicket each.

In reply, Himalayan failed to reach the target despite solid half century from Bhupendra Thapa.Thapa hit eight boundaries and three sixes in his 59-ball 73 but he did not get support from others as he became the lone batsman to score in double figures for the team. Aarif Sheikh (3-10) and Prem Tamang (3-12) shared six wickets between them, while Dipendra Airee took 2-12 and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi pocketed one for NPC.

In another match, TAC hammered New Rising Star by nine wickets. Batting first, New Rising Star were bowled out for 87 in 18.3 overs and TAC reached 90-1 in 11.1 overs. TAC opener Sagar Pun scored an unbeaten 39 off 28 balls that included five fours and a six, while Mahesh Chhetry contributed 23-ball 24 hitting five boundaries before being caught by Sushant Thapa off Tek Salami. Naresh Budhayer remained unbeaten on 18 off just 16 balls that included three hits to the fence.

Earlier, New Rising Star opener Sushant Singh Thapa and Rabindra Jung Shahi scored 18 each, while Rabin Thapa (14 not out) and Sujan Pun (13) were the other batsmen to score in double figures. Jitendra Mukhiya was chief destroyer taking 4-17, while Sagar Pun claimed 3-24 for TAC. Chandra Sawad and Hari Krishna Jha took one wicket each.

A total of 16 teams are taking part in the tournament organised by Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre under the sponsorship of Ruslan Cricket of Jawalakhel Group of Industries. Earlier, Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun inaugurated the event at the TU Stadium.