KATHMANDU, May 28: An impressive bowling from Sushan Bhari helped Tribhuvan Army Club to thrash Nepal Police Club (NPC) by seven wickets in the ongoing 1st Prime Minister Cup One Day National Cricket Tournament on Sunday.
Left arm spinner Sushan claimed six wickets for Army to help departmental team registering its third straight win in group B.
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Army which has already reached to semifinal of the competition became group winner ahead of NPC with six points. With four points from three matches another semifinalist NPC became group runner-up.
Army had defeated Eastern Region by nine wickets while overcaming another regional side Far-western by eight wickets in the first two group matches. Meanwhile both regional teams -Eastern, Far-western-have already crashed out from the tournament.
In the match played at TU Cricket ground, Kirtipur, Army won the toss and invited NPC for the batting. NPC was bowled out for 109 runs in 25.5 overs while the winning side Army met the target in 30.4 overs losing just three wickets.
NPC made disastrous start to the innings as it lost its both openers for duck in Sompal Kami's first over deliveries. Sunil Dhamala was dismissed in Sompal's first ball while Amit Shrestha was sent to pavilion in the last ball of same over.
Dilip Nath stroked the highest 50 runs smashing five boundaries facing 71 balls for NPC before being sent to pavilion in Sushan's delivery. He also built up a 48-run partnership with Dipendra Singh Airee for third wicket. Dipendra contributed 22 runs with the help of four boundaries off the 27 balls before getting leg before wicket in Sagar Pun's delivery. None of the remaining batsmen touched double digit.
To limit NPC for a low total, player-of-the-match Sushan also duck Yogendra Karki and Krishna Bhurtel. Army's pick of the bowling Sushan also dismissed NPC's skipper Manjeet Shrestha (6), Sushil Kandel (3) and Lalit Bhandari (2). Sagar Pun pocketed two wickets as he sent Aarif Sheikh (4) to the pavilion after Dipendra.
Meanwhile, winning side Army also couldn't make solid start to its inning with its openers Mahesh Chhetri and Anil Mandal building up partnership of only five runs for the first wicket. Anil made just one run off three balls before getting dismissed in Binod Bhandari's delivery while Mahesh contributed 11 runs facing 49 balls. Mahesh was also sent to pavilion by Army's skipper Bhandari. Despite not making positive start to the inning, not out 76 runs partnership between skipper Bhandari and Naresh Budayair paved the way for victory for Army.
Bhandari made highest 46 runs smashing one six and seven boundaries while Naresh Budayair who came to bat at fourth number struck 41 runs hitting one six and three boundaries facing 74 balls.
NPC's Lalit pocketed two wickets while Sushil added another.
Meanwhile from Monday, the group B matches will begin with one of the title favorites Armed Police Force (APF) taking on Western Region in the first match.
