Sports

Nepal Police Club racked up their third successive win in the ongoing Prime Minister’s National One-Day Cricket competition on Thursday, beating Lumbini Province by six wickets.

In the Group A match, played at the TU Cricket Ground, Lumbini made 188 runs in 44.3 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat. In reply, Nepal Police scored 192 runs in 37.1 overs for the loss of four wickets.

For Lumbini, skipper Dev Khanal scored 74 off 88 balls with four fours and two sixes, Prajjwol Thapa managed 23 and Bishal Bikram KC scored 30.

Opener Aakash Tripathi was dismissed for a duck in the very first over.

Sandeep Rijal managed 7, Basir Ahamad (5), Krishna Karki (9), Durgesh Gupta (11), and Mohammad Husen (11). Anil Kharel was sent packing for a duck.

NPC’s Dipendra Singh Airee took four wickets Karan KC and Sagar Dhakal took two wickets each, while Gulsan Jha and Lalit Rajbanshi took one each.

NPC openers Sunil Dhamala and Kushal Bhurtel both crossed the 30-run mark. Dhamala scored 36 runs from 26 balls before being castled in the last ball of the fifth over. Bhurtel contributed 32 runs from 41 balls.

Amit Shrestha entered the field and scored 28 from 35 balls before being dismissed in the 15th over.

Bhurtel soon followed him, as NPC put on 114 runs in 19 overs, losing three wickets.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh then shared 66 runs for the fourth wicket to guide the team home. Airee scored 43 from 66 balls with five fours, and Sheikh scored 35 from 51 balls with five fours.

Sheikh was dismissed in the 35th, bringing Dilip Nath to the middle. And he finished off the match with a four. 

NPC, who lead Group A with six points from three games, will next face Madhesh on Tuesday. Lumbini will play Madhesh on Saturday.