KATHMANDU, May 28: Skipper Prithu Baskota played an experienced hand of unbeaten 32 runs to help Armed Police Force Club (APF) close the match against Sudur Paschim by three wickets during the Prime Minister Cup One-Day Cricket Tournament in a Group A match played at Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground at Kirtipur on Monday. APF completed the chase of 126 runs in 34.4 overs.
Player of the match Baskota entered to bat when his team APF was struggling for 69 runs at 20.5 overs for the loss of five wickets. APF still required 58 runs to win at the stage. Baskota registered five boundaries during his 47-ball stay.
Similarly, Sandeep Jora scored 22 runs off 26 deliveries which included a four and a six. Sharad Vesawkar, opening the batting, collected 26 runs off 36 deliveries which included three fours and a six to help APF register its second win in as many matches in the tournament. The player of the match in the last match, Sumit Maharjan could only score 15 runs off 20 deliveries which included a four and a six.
Sudur Paschim spin bowlers Binod Lama and Sher Malla shared five wickets between them to keep the losing side in the hunt for the majority part of the second innings. Lama, the experienced left arm spinner, registered three wickets in his 10 overs in the match conceding 35 runs. Similarly, skipper Malla dismissed Aasif Sheikh and Maharjan to put APF in constant pressure. Bikash Aagri impressed with his in-swingers during his four overs conceding eight runs. He picked up the wicket of Bhuvan Karki. Narendra Saud also picked up a wicket in the match.
Thakuri brace sends Sudur Paschim into its first final
Earlier, Sudur Paschim had won the toss and elected to bat first. Khadak Bohora impressed with his all-round batting abilities, picking up four corners of the ground during his short stay at the crease scoring 19 runs off 22 deliveries. Likewise, Bipin Rawal contributed 21 runs off 51 deliveries which included two boundaries to stitch an opening partnership of 31 runs before Sudur lost the first wicket of the day which opened the floodgates. Sudur lost 10 wickets for next 94 runs as Lokesh Bam’s 30 runs off 58 deliveries which included a boundary was the only noticeable contribution of the innings.
APF’s disciplined bowling was complemented by Sudur’s poor running between the wickets. Five batsmen including Bohora, Roshan Adhikari, Malla, Saud and Lama were all caught short of the crease in a shambolic performance. Avinash Bohora registered two wickets supported by Baskota,
Vesawkar and Karki shared a wicket each.
In another Group A match played at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, Province 3 upstaged Province 5 by six wickets to register its first win of the tournament. Province 3 had lost the first match against APF by 41 runs.
Province 3 had won the toss and elected to field first. Province 5 was bundled out for 122 runs in 42 overs as Province 3 skipper Paras Khadka picked up four wickets supported by teenage left-arm spinner Surya Tamang who registered three wickets in a player of the match performance. Khadka conceded 24 runs from his 10 overs which were matched by Tamang’s immaculate spell of bowling conceding 16 runs from his 10 overs which included three maidens.
Similarly, Province 3’s pace bowlers were also impressive during their respective bowling performances. Nandan Yadav continued his good bowling form picking up two wickets whereas Pratish GC, playing his first game of the tournament, conceded 25 runs from his 10 overs and dismissed opposition skipper Krishna Karki.
Nepalgunj’s Shubendu Pandey was highest scorer for Province 5 registering 20 runs off 39 deliveries which included three boundaries. Similarly, known names Sandeep Sunar and Saurav Khanal contributed 14 and 13 runs respectively.
During the chase, Rit Gautam and Rabin Joshi shared an opening partnership of 72 runs in 10.5 overs before the former batsman was outfoxed by Anil Kharel. Gautam scored 37 runs off 29 deliveries which included seven boundaries.
Likewise, Kharel also dismissed Gautam’s opening partner Joshi who contributed 35 runs off 41 deliveries including five boundaries. Ishan Pandey remained unbeaten on 21 runs off 30 deliveries which included a four and a six. Siddhant Raj Shahi registered two wickets including the big one of Paras Khadka, but Province 3 completed the chase in 21.5 overs.
Province 3 will face Gandaki Province in its third match of Group A at Kirtipur on Tuesday whereas Tribhuvan Army Club will clash against Karnali Province in a Group B encounter at Mulpani on the same day.
