Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Armed Police Force (APF) Club registered wins in their respective games on Friday making the fight for a spot in the Top 4 more difficult for the provincial teams.

With this, TAC, APF and Nepal Police Club (NPC), the only unbeaten team and table topper in the tournament, are now almost certain to claim the top three spots. Thus, the seven provincial teams are likely to fight for the only remaining spot.

In the ongoing Men’s PM Cup, the major target for a team was the Top 2 spots as the best two teams play for the trophy after a single round-robin league structure. However, being one of the top four teams will allow them to play in the Jay Trophy, a multi-day cricket between PM Cup’s Top 4.

In the previous edition, APF was the only departmental side that failed to stay in the Top 4. The two departmental teams–NPC and TAC–along with Bagmati and Madhesh played in the first edition of the Jay Trophy Men’s Elite Cup in January this year.

As a result, APF, the team led by national skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel, are not risking their position in the Top 4 this season.

APF registered their fourth win in six games defeating Sudurpaschim Province at Siddhartha Cricket Stadium on Friday. APF chased Sudurpaschim’s target of 192 runs with three wickets and 81 balls remaining.

APF lost to their departmental opponents in the two instances while no provincial team has been able to hand them a defeat. As their last three fixtures are against Gandaki, Lumbini and Koshi provinces, APF have a good prospect of staying as one of the top four.

Likewise, TAC registered their sixth win in seven games at Deukhuri International Cricket Stadium defeating Gandaki by six wickets. Shahab Alam’s fifer helped TAC bundle out Gandaki for 116 runs (30.3 overs) and chase the low total in 26.5 overs.

TAC were expected to stay unbeaten until they faced NPC in the last league game of the tournament. However, they failed against Madhes on March 19. TAC are facing Lumbini on March 23.

On the other hand, Karnali entered the Top 4 defeating Madhes at Extratech Oval. Posting a decent total of 220 runs, Karnali defended it. Madhes were all out at 139 runs in 35.2 overs as powerhouses like Anil Sah, Pawan Sarraf, Mayan Yadav and Harishankar Shah failed with the bat.

It was a fourth win for Karnali in their seventh game. They will have to certainly defeat Bagmati in their eighth game to keep their fourth spot because their last game is against NPC.

Hosts of the tournament, Lumbini, with four wins in seven games, are following Karnali. Yet, Lumbini have more danger ahead as they will face TAC and APF in the remaining two games.

Sudurpaschim’s chance is almost over as they have only two wins in seven games. But Madhes and Bagmati, with two wins in six games each, could pose some challenges if they win their next two fixtures.

Madhes are facing Gandaki and Sudurpaschim while Bagmati play Koshi and Karnali before the duo face each other in their respective last game of the season on March 27.