Armymen, Province5 triumph

Kathmandu, June 3

Tribhuvan Army Club thrashed Province4 to register their third straight victory, while Province5 hammered Province6 (Karnali) by the identical margin of nine wickets in the Prime Minister Cup One Day Cricket Tournament here today.

Electing to bat first, Province4 were bowled out for a paltry 76 runs in 29 overs before TAC reached 77-1 in 16.4 overs at the Mulpani grounds. Opener Anil Gurung was the lone Province4 batsman to score in double figures, hitting seven fours in his 90-ball 42, while six players even failed to open their accounts.

Bikram Sob (3-13), ShahabAlam (3-6) and Sagar Pun (3-14) shared nine wickets among them for TAC, while Susan Bhari took one wicket.

In reply, Anil Kumar Mandal remained unbeaten on 28 off 45 balls hitting three fours, while NareshBudhayair scored 10 not out off 22 balls that included a four. Opener Sagar Pun, who struck one four and two sixes in his 33-ball 26, was the only wicket to fall, stumped by skipper BidhanShrestha off GovindaPradhan.

In another match at the TU Stadium, Karnali were bowled out for 55 runs in 22.5 overs before Province5 raced to 59-1 in 10.4 overs. Vijay Bista top scored for Karnali with 17 off 45 balls hitting a four and he was the lone batsman to contribute in double figures. Karnali had a disastrous batting as they were reduced to 8-5 in 6.1 overs.

National team veteran Shakti Gauchan was the pick of the Province5 bowlers taking 3-4 from six overs and he was ably supported by Bikram Kumar Bhusal (3-13), LalAdhikari (2-9) and Krishna Karki (2-11).

In reply, Province5 were heading towards a 10-wicket victory but Shankar Rana lost his cool and handed a catch to SandipShahi off Tek Salami with five runs remaining. Rana top scored with 29 off 31 balls hitting six fours. SandeepSunar, who remained unbeaten on 30-ball 27 that included six boundaries, and ShubhenduPandey (One) took the team home without further loss.

After the day’s results, TAC moved atop the Group A standing with three wins in as many matches, while Nepal APF Club are second with four points. Province2, who have two points from three matches, are still alive, while Province4 and Province1 have been knocked out from the semi-finals race.

In Group B, Province7 are at the top of the table with five points from four matches, while Nepal Police Club and Province5 have three points each. Province3 have two points from two matches, while Karnali were knocked out from the tournament with one point from four matches.