Cricket
Tribhuvan Army Club have set up summit meeting with Armed Police Force in the Prime Minister’s National One-Day Cricket Tournament after a two-wicket win over Nepal Police Club.
The Army won the toss and invited NPC to bat in the second semi-final at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Friday.
More than six hundred runs were scored in the match, with NPC put up a mammoth total of 304 runs, losing four wickets in 50 overs. But making their intent clear from the start, TAC crossed the rope, scoring 309 runs in 49.5 overs for the loss of eight wickets to secure their fifth consecutive final berth. The final will be on Saturday.
The Army made a shaky start to their chase, losing Arjun Saud and Bhim Sharki with 46 runs on the board.
But opener Hari Chauhan found an able support from Rohit Paudel as the two shared a 135-run partnership to lay the foundation for their win.
Chauhan scored 75 from 92 balls with eight fours and a six before being bowled out in the 32nd over. Paudel top scored for the Army with 89 from 87 balls with nine fours.
The Army lost two quick wickets after departures of Chauhan and Paudel. Skipper Binod Bhandari was out for 32 and Kushal Malla returned without scoring.
Middle-order batters Rajesh Pulami and Bikram Sob shared a 53-run partnership to take the score to 295 before Sob’s dismissal.
Pulami took the Army home as he finished unbeaten on 43 runs from 37 balls with three fours and two sixes.
NPC’s Karan KC picked up six wickets from his allocated 10 overs giving away 52 runs. Rashid Khan and Lalit Rajbanshi took one wicket each.
Earlier, NPC started their innings losing their top-order batsmen Kushal Bhurtel, Sunil Dhamala and Amit Shrestha with a total at 67.
Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh then shared a massive 204-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Airee scored his second century of the tournament, making 140 runs from 125 balls with eleven fours and five sixes. He was caught out in the 48th over.
Sheikh missed out on his century, scoring 91 off 109 balls with eight fours and two sixes, helping the police team cross the 300-run mark.
