Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi is now the first bowler to cross 100 wickets in the Prime Minister Cup: Men’s National Cricket Tournament. He reached the feat with a six-wicket haul against Karnali in Lamahi, Dang, on Tuesday.

Nepal Police Club (NPC) registered their eighth consecutive win and remained unbeaten despite giving a low target of 148 runs to Karnali thanks to Rajbanshi’s six wickets. This is the third time he picked six wickets in a single match in the seventh edition.

Anuj Chanara took four and skipper Diwan Pun took three wickets for Karnali as they bundled out NPC for 147 runs in 48 overs.

It was NPC’s lowest total batting first this season as quality batters like Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Aarif Sheikh and Gulshan Jha departed for a golden duck, 1 run, 2 runs and 8 runs, respectively.

Opener Rabindra Shahi stood tall for Karnali in the chase and departed with only one run short of his half-century. Arjun Gharti also contributed with 30 off 42 in the middle, but Karnali were all out for 103 runs in 24 overs.

Rajbanshi completed his 100 wickets, getting Dipendra Rawat and Pun caught in the fourth and last deliveries of the 16th over, respectively. While Rawat was caught cleanly by Bhurtel, the umpire took a while to accept that Pun was caught off a soft edge behind the stumps.

The decision led NPC’s whole team to burst into joy and gather near the pitch to congratulate Rajbanshi for a historic feat. He could be seen kissing the pitch and paying tribute to his faith by touching his forehead and chest—a symbolic act of devotion.

“We had a low total to defend,” Rajbanshi said after receiving the Player of the Match award. “I failed in my first two overs, but the coach and captain kept their trust in me. I am happy for the feat, and I want to thank all of my teammates and my supporters.”

Rajbanshi’s other records

The seventh edition is going great for Rajbanshi. Alongside the 100-wicket milestone, Rajbanshi also created a new record for most wickets in an edition.

Rajbanshi had already equalled Surya Tamang’s record for most wickets in an edition—30 wickets in nine games (6th edition, 2024)—before facing Karnali. With six wickets on Tuesday, Rajbanshi now has 36 wickets in eight games. Including the final, Rajbanshi still has two more games left this season.

He was also the first to reach 20 wickets (in six games) in an edition when he achieved the result in 2019. He is also the bowler with the most five-or-more wicket hauls: seven; he has five four-wicket hauls as well.

He is also the most consistent economic bowler the tournament has ever seen. He has the best average (9.83) among bowlers who have bowled 200+ overs in the PM Cup history.

Likewise, Rajbanshi, with an economy of 3.29, has the second-best economy among bowlers to have bowled 300+ overs.

Match Day 17

After the win over Karnali, Rajbanshi said that NPC will try to understand Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) in the next game so that they would not have to worry much in the final.

TAC and NPC are playing their final game of the league structure on March 27. “We are already in the final, and it seems TAC will make it as our opponent,” Rajbanshi said. “We will look forward to boosting our confidence in the next game and carrying the momentum to the final.”

Likewise, Madhesh emerged victorious in the other match of the day. Madhesh defeated Sudurpaschim at Extratech Cricket Oval in what was another low-scoring game of the day.

Batting first, Madhesh were all out for 102 runs in 42.3 overs. Hemant Dhami and Sher Malla picked four wickets each for Sudurpaschim.

However, Bishal Patel, with a six-wicket haul, destroyed Sudurpaschim’s hope alongside three wickets by Pradip Paswan. Dhami was the only batter to score in double figures, while there were three golden ducks and two ducks, and Sudurpaschim could only post 58 runs on the board in 29 overs.