Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club registered a thumping seven-wicket win over Madhesh Province to storm into the final of the Prime Minister Cup One-Day National Cricket Tournament at the TU ground in Kirtipur on Thursday.

Sent in to bat first, Madhesh were bowled out for 122 runs in 31 overs after Kamal Airee claimed four wickets, including three top-order batters. APF chased the target in 21.3 overs, losing only three wickets, to enter the final of the 50-over tournament for the third time in five editions of the Cup since 2017.

APF, the winners of 2018 edition and the runners up of 2021 edition, will now meet the winners of the second semi-final between Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal Police Club in the summit clash on Saturday. The second semi-final is scheduled for Friday.

APF were also the winners of the last edition of the game held in the Twenty20 format in January with a view to prepare and select the team for ICC World Twenty20 Global Qualifiers.

Madhesh were off to a shaky start, losing wickets in quick succession. APF’s right arm medium pacer Airee made an early breakthrough by clean bowling opener and captain Harishankar Shah for six runs on the third delivery of the seventh over. He also trapped Rohan BK leg before wicket on his next delivery for a golden duck with the score reading 14 for 2.

The 21-year-old then dismissed Anil Sah for 13 runs after Sah was caught by Mousom Dhakal with 30 runs on the board. This piled early pressure on Madhesh.

Tailender Rupesh Singh was the highest scorer for Madhesh, scoring an unbeaten 36 off 23 balls which included four hits to the fence as well as two sixes. Opener Santosh Karki became the fourth wicket to fall after he was trapped leg before by Bhuvan Karki, scoring a 48-ball 20.

Imran Sheikh (16), Mohammad Aadil Alam (11) and Rajesh Yadav (13), were the other batters for Madhesh to reach double-digit scores.

APF bowler Airee, named player-of-the-match, conceded 27 runs in his nine overs spell. Bhuvan Karki and Mousom Dhakal accounted for two wickets each.

Chasing the target, Lokesh Bam contributed 35 runs and he remained not out, registering the highest score of the innings. Openers Pradeep Airee and Aasif Sheikh shared a 60-run stand for the first wicket.

Pradeep hit 33 off 38 balls while Sheikh contributed a 32-ball 25. Sheikh hit five boundaries before he was bowled by Rajesh Yadav, becoming the first wicket to fall. Pradeep struck four boundaries and two sixes before Rupesh Singh got him out.

Sumit Maharjan contributed 13 runs off 20 balls that included two hits to the boundary. Bam’s 35 comprised four hits to the fence along with a maximum, while Sundeep Jora remained unbeaten on six runs.

Madhesh bowler Rupesh Singh took two wickets in his seven-over spell. He conceded 29 runs and bowled two maidens.