An all-round performance from skipper Sandeep Lamichhane inspired Kathmandu Mayor's XI to a 94-run win over the national team captain Gyanendra Malla-led Bagmati Province in the Kathmandu Mayor's Cup one-day cricket tournament at the Mulpani Grounds on Sunday.

Lamichhane played a quickfire 42 runs off 20 and then grabbed three wickets as the assembled team inflicted Bagmati second defeat in a row and made a winning start to their campaign.

Put into bat first, Mayor's XI scored 244-9 in the allotted 50 overs before restricting Bagmati to 150 runs in 34.3 overs.

Mayor's XI had largely to thank their middle and lower middle order for their challenging total despite making a shaky start and tottering at 5-43. Sandeep Rajali, who came to bat at number four, contributed 33 runs and seventh order batsman Siddhant Lohani scored 34 runs.

Saurav Khanal remained unbeaten at 49 runs facing 58 deliveries. The highest scorer for Mayor's XI hit six boundaries and a six. Coming to bat at number nine, national team spinner Lamichhane smashed six sixes to lift the innings. Bipin Khatri hit 32 off 30.

Bagmati's Nandan Yadav was the pick of their innings claiming four wickets in his 10-over bowling. He conceded 41 runs with a maiden over. Ramnaresh Giri and Ariyo Poudel pocketed two wickets apiece.

In the run chase, only the first five batsmen managed to score in double figures as they lost other batsmen too cheaply. Prithu Baskota, who came to bat at number five, contributed the highest 60 runs off 76 deliveries. While openers Gyanendra Malla and Aadil Khan scored 17 runs and 15 runs, former national captain Paras Khadka managed only 10 runs. Ishan Pandey was the next batsman to contribute in double figures scoring 17 runs.

Mayor's XI captain Lamichhane conceded 40 runs in his nine overs of bowling. Anil Kharel and Bipn Khatri grabbed two wickets each. The Mayor's XI is an assembled team composed of best performers of six provinces other than Bagmati in the recently held Prime Minister Cup along with some national players.

Police lose despite Airee century

Dipendra Singh Airee's century went in vain for Nepal Police Club as they faced one-wicket defeat against arch-rivals Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club in a last over thriller at the TU grounds, Kirtipur.

Airee, who hit his first career century, scored 140 runs off 131 deliveries for Police as they amassed 258-7. But Airee's innings could not secure a win for Police as their departmental rivals earned a nail-biting victory scoring 263-9 in the penultimate ball of the last over. APF captain Sharad Vesawkar scored a six in the fourth ball of the over as they required two runs for victory to pull off their second victory from as many matches.

Police, who had overcome Bagmati by two runs in their opening match on Saturday, faced the first defeat of the campaign.

The man-of-the-match Airee caught by wicketkeeper Subash Khakurel in the last ball of their innings hit 11 fours and six sixes. Pawan Sarraf contributed 35 runs while Sunil Dhamala scored 33 runs. Anil Sah (18) and Kushal Bhurtel (10) were other major contributors.

Police skipper Sharad Vesawkar grabbed three wickets and Abinash Bohara pocketed two.

APF openers Subash Khakurel and Aasif Sheik gave a solid start to their innings sharing a 67-run stand for the first wicket before the latter was out for 42 runs. Khakurel contributed 50 runs before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Dilip Nath.

Sundeep Jora, the highest scorer for APF, smashed 61 off 65. His innings included two boundaries and three sixes. Kamal Airee hit 14 runs while Sumit Maharjan remained unbeaten on 33 runs.

Police bowler Pawan Sarraf claimed five wickets in his nine over spell conceding 45 runs. Yogendra Singh Karki took two wickets.