Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club registered a hard fought two-run victory over Gandaki Province to maintain their winning streak while Tribhuvan Army Club and Province 1 shared points after the match was abandoned in the Prime Minister Cup National Twenty20 Cricket Tournament on Thursday.

In the low scoring match at a damp outfield of Mulpani grounds, which saw the first match between Army and Province 1 abandoned without a ball being bowled, APF conceded just four runs in the last seven deliveries of the innings when Gandaki required six runs for victory chasing a 93-run target.

Gandaki batters Bidhan Shrestha and Bishal Paudel were dismissed in the last over as the former was caught by Pradip Airee off Kishore Mahato in the second delivery of the last over and the latter was run out.

With third win in a row, APF climbed to the top of Group 'B' standings with six points and inched closer to the semi-final. Gandaki are winless after two matches and have yet to open accounts. Army, who lost their second match to Nepal Police, are second in the table with three points from as many matches in Group 'A'. Police lead the standings with four points from two matches.

Electing to bat first, APF were bowled out for a paltry total of 92 runs with eight balls to spare. But they defended the total, restricting Gandaki to 90-7 at close.

APF openers Pradip Airee scored 17 runs off 29 and Aasif Sheikh played 10-ball 16. Airee hit a boundary while Sheikh smashed two boundaries and a six. Dip Bohara contributed 10-ball 15 while Sumit Maharjan (12 runs) and Sundeep Jora (10 runs) were the other players to score in double digits.

Gandaki's Kamal Pariyar was the pick of bowling claiming three wickets in his 3.4 overs conceding 21 runs. Bishal Paudel pocketed two wickets.

Chasing the target, middle order batter and captain Bipin Khatri contributed 36 off 39 that included three boundaries and a six. Wicketkeeper batter Bidhan Pradhan hit 49-ball 29, but none of the other players contributed in double digits before their hopes of pulling off an upset evaporated.

Kamal Airee, named man of the match, grabbed three wickets for APF in his four-over spell giving away 10 runs. Kishore Mahato took two scalps.

Sudurpaschim, Lumbini pull off first wins

At the TU grounds in Kirtipur, Sudurpaschim Province and Lumbini Province registered their first victories of the tournament after the second match. Sudurpaschim thumped Karnali Province by 47 runs while Lumbini edged Province 2 by 42 runs. Sudurpaschim and Lumbini are both in third place of their respective groups with two points apiece after playing their second matches.

Put to bat first, Sudurpaschim garnered 153-8 before bowling out Karnali for 106 runs with five balls to spare. Arjun Saud hit 23-ball 32 for Sudurpaschim while Basanta Karki scored 17-ball 28. Opener Dipak Bohara contributed 25 off 27, Khadak Bohora 22 off 24 and Hemanta Dangi 10 off 4. They also got 17 extra runs.

Karnali bowler Prakash Jaishi grabbed three wickets while Diwan Pun and Rabindra Shahi took two wickets each. Jaishi gave away 36 runs in his four-over bowling.

Chasing the target, opener and captain Rabindra Shahi contributed 43-ball 33 that included four fences. Arjun Gharti contributed 24-ball 30 and Anup Kunwar scored 13 off 16 for Karnali.

Captain Sher Malla was the pick of Sudurpaschim bowling claiming four wickets. The man-of-the-match Dhami conceded 15 runs in his four-over spell. Hemant Dhami picked two wickets.

In another match, Dev Khanal scored a half century for Lumbini, who elected to bat first, as they posted a challenging total of 161-8 before restricting Province 2 to 119-9 with a five-wicket haul from Anil Kharel.

Lumbini opener Khanal smashed 54 off 38 that included four fences and two sixes. Basir Ahamad and Sandeep Rajali were other remarkable contributors scoring 30 runs each. Ahamad faced 37 deliveries and Rajali 18 balls. Opener Saurav Khanal made 10 runs and Sushant Thapa contributed 14 runs.

Province 2 bowlers Rupesh Singh and Bibek Yadav picked two wickets each.

In the run chase, Province 2 tailender Bibek Yadav scored 36 not out. Yadav hit two fences and three sixes. Opener Santosh Khatri and Harikrishna Jha contributed 14 runs each while Mohammad Aadil Alam and Rupesh Singh scored 13 runs apiece.

Left arm orthodox bowler Kharel ripped apart Province 2 batters with a five-wicket haul. The player of the match gave away 13 runs in his four-over spell with a maiden over.

There will be four league matches on Friday.