Kathmandu, May 23

Sagar Pun completed a five-wicket haul as Tribhuvan Army Club registered a nine-wicket victory over Eastern Development Region in the inaugural match of the first Prime Minister Cup One-day National Men’s Cricket Tournament here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

Put into bat first, Eastern were bowled our for a paltry 103 runs in 32.3 overs before the departmental side raced to 107-1 in 18.4 overs in their Group B match.

Anil Kumar Mandal scored 56 not out off 63 balls with the help of eight boundaries, while Sagar Pun remained unbeaten on 40 off 48 balls hitting three boundaries and a six to complete the victory. Mandal and Pun shared a 106-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket after opener Mahesh Chhetri was dismissed in the first over.

TAC had a disastrous start to their run chase with Mehboob Alam trapping Chhetri leg before the wicket in the first legal delivery of their innings with just one run on the board. However, the pair of Mandal and Pun took the team home with ease. Mandal, who reached half century in 58 balls, struck the winning boundary off Pushpa Thapa.

Earlier, Eastern had a terrible start before crawling to 103 runs. Alam top scored with 36 off 43 balls with the help of two boundaries and three sixes, while Bidhan Goswami (19 off 32) and Ankit Subedi (12 off 29) were the other two batsmen who contributed in double figures. Goswami hit one each four and six, while Subedi cracked two boundaries.

TAC skipper Binod Bhandari’s decision of opting to bowl first paid off as Sompal Kami had Eastern opener Amal Das (five) caught by Sagar Pun in the fifth ball of the fifth over with only 12 runs on the board. Sushan Bhari, who made his TAC debut, dismissed another opener Goswami in the 12th over and sent Anik Subedi back to the pavilion in the first ball of the 16th over to reduce Eastern to 41-3.

Alam then added 26 runs with skipper Pushpa Thapa (four) for the fourth wicket before the latter was caught by Raju Rijal off Sompal Kami in the last ball of 19th over. Sagar Pun then claimed five of the last wickets to return with the figures of 5-16 from nine overs. He was ably supported by Sushan Bhari, who took 3-32 in 4.3 overs, while Sompal Kami pocketed 2-16. Pun was adjudged the man-of-the-match and got Rs 5,000, while TAC earned Rs 25,000 for winning the match.

Eastern coach Pradeep Raj Pandey said his side took part in the tournament with short preparation and fell under pressure against the departmental team.

“We played only two 50-over matches before travelling to Kathmandu as the tournament is being organised after a long gap. And we have a majority of U-19 players and they got nervous against the strong departmental side,” said Pandey, adding “the tournament will provide exposure to the young players.”

TAC skipper Binod Bhandari said his side was not under any pressure and inclusion of spinners Shahab Alam and Sushan Bhari had made his team stronger. “The match was not a competitive one and Sagar Pun’s performance was brilliant,” Said Bhandari, who termed departmental teams — Nepal Police Club and Nepal APF Club — as tough opponents for his side.

On Wednesday, Nepal Police Club will take on Far-western Development Region in another Group B match.