With 13 games played so far across five days in the Men’s PM Cup 2025, the three departmental clubs—Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Nepal Police Club (NPC)—remain the only unbeaten teams. The tournament will see 45 league-stage games between 10 teams, including seven provincial teams, across 19 days (March 9 to 27).

APF registered their second consecutive win in the tournament defeating Madhesh Province by two wickets at the Lamahi-based Deukhuri International Cricket Ground on Thursday, while TAC defeated Karnali to register their third win of the tournament at Extratech Oval, Rupandehi.

Similarly, tournament hosts Lumbini Province also registered their second win defeating Gandaki by 14 runs at Siddharthanagar Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Lumbini started their campaign with a win over Koshi in the tournament opener but lost to NPC in their second game on Monday. It was the first game for NPC and they registered their second win on Wednesday over Koshi.

Thus, by the end of Day 5, Army stayed atop of the points table with three wins in three games and were followed by APF and NPC with two wins in two games. Lumbini are the only other team with two wins (in three games).

Madhesh were expected to be the team to prevent at least one departmental side from keeping the unbeaten run as the provincial team have a good set of players, but Pawan Sarraf’s fifty in his, and team’s, second consecutive game was insufficient for Madhesh to put up a defending total against Nepal’s national skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel-led APF. Playing their second game, Madhesh registered their first loss after a win over Koshi on March 11.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Madhesh, with Sarraf’s 77 off 77, were bundled out at 168 runs in 40.4 overs. Kamal Airee was APF’s highest wicket-taker picking four wickets in his 9-over spell. Bhuvan Karki and Paudel bagged two each.

It was also Airee who took APF to the win. He hit the second-last ball of the 37th over for a six to take their total to 170/8. The knocks of Aasif Sheikh (34 off 34) and Sumit Maharjan (35 off 48) were crucial for APF before Airee (28 off 31) took the team to the win.

APF, the only departmental side to not qualify for Men’s Elite Cup (Jay Trophy) last season, are not taking the games lightly this edition.

Likewise, Karnali were TAC’s third victim. Karnali won the toss and allowed Army to bat first. In response, Army gave a target of 263 runs as opener Trit Raj Das (69 off 84) and skipper Binod Bhandari (56 off 64) registered individual half-centuries.

Prakash Jaishi, who bagged four wickets for Karnali, was the hero with the bat as well; he was the only Karnali batter to reach the half-century mark. Staying not out at 50 off 72, Jaishi could not guide his team to a second win in three games.

On the other hand, Lumbini, invited to bat first at Siddharthanagar Cricket Ground, were all out for 217 runs with a last delivery remaining in the first inning; and Lumbini defended it as Gandaki could only reach 203/9 in 50 overs. Teenager Arjun Kumal’s 62 off 86 could not support Gandaki while the lower order tried their best.

Day 6 of the tournament, on Friday, will see Bagmati vs Sudurpaschim and NPC vs APF at Extratech and Deukhuri grounds, respectively.

Day 6 will also ensure that one of the three departmental clubs will not be able to keep their winning run safe.