Just like the inaugural Jay Trophy last year, the final of the second edition will see the same two teams—Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal Police Club—clashing for the title.

Police won the previous edition, defeating Army by 28 runs at the Birgunj-based Narayani Cricket Ground. All eyes will now be on the three-day final with fans wondering if Police will repeat the feat again.

Before defeating the Army in the inaugural edition’s final, the duo’s league stage match had ended in a draw. But this time, the Army managed a dominating victory, by nine wickets, over the defending champions when they came face to face in the tournament opener.

And it was the only win for the Army in the ongoing red-ball tournament. The Army’s second fixture with Bagmati Province ended in a draw, while their last match against the APF Club also ended similarly on Friday.

Having been invited to bat first, Army declared at 252/9 in 68.4 overs on the back of a 172-run first wicket partnership between the openers. While Trit Raj Das managed a century (102 off 159), his partner Imran Sheikh departed at 71 off 134.

In response, APF were bundled out at 140 runs in 46.3 overs in the first innings.

With another good score in the second innings, Army then declared at 268/8 in 56.3 overs, this time on the back of Bashir Ahmad’s not-out knock of 101 off 119 and captain Binod Bhandari’s 63 off 61.

To win, APF now required 381 runs, while Army needed to bundle APF before Stumps on Day 2. Army, with the help of a fifer by Naren Saud, managed to bag APF’s seventh wicket, at 224 runs in 46.5 overs. But it was already time, and with the umpires allowing the 47th over to conclude, they called for Stumps. And the match ended in a draw.

On the other hand, Nepal Police, electing to field first, were able to bundle out Bagmati at 185 in 53.5 overs on Day 1. And when it was time for Stumps on Day 1, Police were 245/4 in 49 overs, powered by Kushal Bhurtel’s 96 off 84.

At the end of 70 overs on Day 2, Police declared with the second-highest total of the tournament: 334/8.

Bagmati were better in their second innings than in the first, managing 237 while getting all out in 62.2 overs, with Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi sending half of the Bagmati’s batting line-up back to the pavilion.

There was a difference of only a couple of minutes between Stumps in the match between Army and APF at Upper Mulpani, and Karan KC hitting a six in the first ball of the 16th over against Bagmati to end the match at 89/2 at the TU Ground, and book their seat in the final.

Army, with a win and two draws, topped the table with 66 points, while Police, with two wins and a loss, finished second, trailing Army by 0.5 points. APF and Bagmati ended their campaign with 53 and 40 points, respectively.

Nonetheless, the final, which was scheduled for March 1-3, has been postponed. Issuing a statement after the conclusion of the matches on Friday, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) informed that the final will take place from April 5-7. “The final has been rescheduled due to the parliamentary elections,” the statement read.

How were the points calculated?

A team can earn a maximum of 10 points for a win, with other points added as bonuses under different conditions.

A team gets 10 points with a win after leading in the first innings, while only 8 after a tie in the first innings. If a team wins after trailing in the first innings, it gets six points.

A team gets 7, 5 and 3 points for a tie after leading in the first innings, a tie in both innings, and a tie after trailing in the first innings, respectively.

There are six points for a draw, followed by a lead in the first innings, and only three points for a draw with a tie in the first innings. In case a match ends without a result, each team gets one point.

There are no points provided if there is a draw after trailing in the first innings, or for an outright loss after trailing in the first innings.

Meanwhile, for an outright loss after leading in the first innings and after a tie in the first innings, a team gets four and two points, respectively.

Regarding the bonuses for a batting team, they get 0.5 points for every 25 runs scored throughout the 70 overs in the first innings. Meanwhile, there is a ceiling in the second innings. “0.5 points for every 25 runs throughout the [second] innings to a maximum of four points,” the tournament’s regulation states.

There is a maximum of five bonus points, with the ball, as a team gets 0.5 points for each wicket.

And whatever the results of the match, the bonus points from both innings will be awarded and retained by a team.