Tribhuvan Army Club entered into the final of the Prime Minister Cup National one-day cricket tournament for the fourth time in a row with a resounding 94-run victory over Bagmati Province in the second semi-final at the TU grounds in Kirtipur on Thursday.

Army, defeated by Nepal Police Club in all three previous editions, will meet arch-rivals Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club in the final on Saturday at the same venue.

Put into bat first, Army posted 229 runs in the alloted 50 overs losing all the wickets and bowled out Bagmati for 135 runs in 40.2 overs.

Army made a shaky start to their innings losing first three wickets for 17 runs on board as they lost openers Hari Chauhan for three runs and Anil Mandal for two runs. The departmental team lost number three batsman Rohit Paudel for a duck.

But the departmental team’s middle and lower middle order lifted the innings. Bhim Sharki and Lokesh Bam played a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Bam was out for 23 runs. Sharki contributed 40 runs from 61 deliveries before he was caught by wicketkeeper Aakash Thapa off Tilak Bhandari.

Rajesh Pulami, the highest scorer for Army with 65 runs under his belt, shared a 92-run partnership with Bikram Sob for the seventh wicket. Sob scored 35 runs off 58 before he was caught by wicketkeeper Thapa off Ramnaresh Giri. Pulami, the next wicket to fall, hit four boundaries and two sixes. The man-of-the-match Pulami was stumped by wicketkeeper Thapa off Gautam KC.

Army skipper Binod Bhandari and Sushan Bhari were other contributors with 10 runs and 16 runs in their names.

KC was the peak of Bagmati bowling as he grabbed five wickets in his 10-over spell. He conceded 61 runs with a maiden over.

Bagmati made a poor start to their run chase losing five wickets for just 18 runs on board. They lost the first four batsmen—openers Aakash Thapa for a duck and Adil Khan for 10 runs, Bibhatsu Thapa for four runs and Prithu Baskota for one run.

Bagmati skipper Gyanendra Malla, who came to bat at number five, scored the highest 47 runs off 60 balls that included four fences. He was trapped leg before by Sushan Bhari. Bipin Acharya and Nandan Yadav were other major contributors for Bagmati with 23 and unbeaten 22 runs in their kitty.

Army’s Jitendra Mukhiya grabbed four wickets in his 8.2-over spell. He gave away 24 runs with a maiden over. Bikram Sob and Sushan Bhari pocketed three wickets each. Sob came up with impressive bowling figures. He gave away 25 runs in his 10 overs bowling with five maiden overs. Bhari conceded 36 runs in his 10-over spell with a maiden over.