Bhandari bats Army to final

Kathmandu, June 5

Skipper Binod Bhandari and Raju Rijal scored half centuries to lead Tribhuvan Army Club to the final of the Expert Prime Minister Cup One Day Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

The departmental side defeated Province-3 by 117 runs in the first semi-final match.

TAC posted 309-6 in their allotted 50 overs before restricting Province-3 to 192-9 runs. TAC will now face the winners of Thursday’s semi-final match between Nepal APF Club and Nepal Police Club. The final is slated for Saturday.

Put into bat first after Province-3 skipper Paras Khadka won the toss, TAC made a slow start and lost opener Hari Krishna Jha (12) with 23 runs on the board. Another opener Raju Rijal and Hari Bahadur Chauhan added 73 runs for the second wicket before TAC lost both the batsmen in the space of 27 runs to be 123-3 in 27.3 overs. Rijal scored 51 off 86 balls with the help of four boundaries and two sixes, while Chauhan struck four fours and a six in his 37-ball 38.

Rohit Kumar Paudel and Rajesh Pulami Magar shared a 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Paudel scored 43 off just 35 balls hitting four boundaries and a six, while Magar scored 39-ball 29 that included two boundaries.

After the departure of Karan KC, who scored a quick fire 21 off 14 balls hitting two fours and a six, skipper Bhandari took over the responsibility and together with Kushal Malla added 63 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket.

Tribhuvan Army Club skipper Binod Bhandari bats against Province-3 during their Expert Prime Minister Cup One Day Cricket Tournament match at the TU Stadium on Wednesday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry / THT

Bhandari scored an unbeaten 75 off just 42 balls hitting five each fours and sixes, while Malla scored 17-ball 26 not out that included one four and two sixes. Nandan Kumar Yadav (2-41) and Jitendra Singh Thakuri (2-47) shared four wickets between them, while skipper Khadka and Sonu Devkota grabbed one wicket each for Province-3.

In reply, Ishan Pandey fought the lonely battle but his efforts were not enough. Pandey, who scored 79 off 117 balls hitting three fours and four sixes, did not get support from the other end as Province-3 kept on losing wickets at regular interval. Gyanenda Malla was the second best at 26 off 32 balls that included two fours and a six.

Skipper Khadka struck three boundaries in his 16-ball 19, while Nandan Kumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 18 off 66 balls hitting a six. Aadil Khan (15) was the other batsman who contributed in double figures.

Shahab Alam was the pick of the TAC bowlers taking 3-27 from 10 overs, while Karan KC claimed 2-40. Susan Bhari, Rohit Kumar Paudel and Kushal Malla grabbed one wicket each. TAC skipper Binod Bhandari was named the man of the match.

The post Bhandari bats Army to final appeared first on The Himalayan Times.