Police hammer Province5

NPC’s Dipendra Singh Airee celebrates his half century against Province5 during their PM Cup One Day Cricket Tournament match at the TU Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry/ THT

Kathmandu, June 6

Nepal Police Club defeated Province5 by seven wickets to advance to the semi-finals of the Prime Minister Cup One Day Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

With the victory, NPC topped Group B with seven points, while Province5 made it to the last four as group runners-up on better net run rate after they were tied on five points with Province7. Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal APF Club have already entered the semi-finals from Group A.

Batting first, Province5 scored 200-9 in their allotted 50 overs before NPC reached 201-3 with six overs to spare. Shankar Rana top scored for Province5 with 44 off 78 balls that included four boundaries and a six, while Saurav Khanal struck five fours and a six in his 54-ball 42. Krishna Karki struck one each fours and six in his 24-ball 26, while Rajbir Singh scored 21 and Sandeep Sunar and Bikram Kumar Bhusal contributed 20 each. Shubhendu Pandey (17) also scored in double figures.

For NPC, Ram Naresh Giri (2-54) and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi (2-37) shared four wickets between them, while Lalit Singh Bhandari and Dipendra Singh Airee claimed one wicket each.

In reply, Airee scored a half century to guide the team to victory. Airee struck two boundaries and three sixes in his quick fire unbeaten 58 off 53 balls, while Aarif Sheikh scored 45 not out off 51 balls that included two fours and three sixes. Man-of-the-match Airee and Sheikh shared 104-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket.

Sunil Dhamala scored 36 off 82 balls, while his opening partner Amit Shrestha struck three fours in his 41-ball 30. Dilip Nath scored 24 off 38 balls hitting two boundaries. Sandeep Sunar took 2-35 off nine overs, while Lal Adhikari pocketed one wicket for Province5.

In Friday’s semi-finals, Group A winners TAC will take on Group B runners-up Province5, while Group B winners NPC will play against Group A runners-up Nepal APF Club.