Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) made a short work of Rupandehi XI to win the Karnali Premier League title with a 37-run victory at the Surkhet Stadium on Saturday.

Rupandehi bowlers did well to restrict a star-studded TAC batting line up to 132-7 in 20 overs after they elected to bat first. But the Army bowlers hit back hard to bundle out Rupandehi for just 95 runs in 17.5 overs. The title made TAC richer by Rs 300,000, while runners-up Rupandehi took home Rs 150,000.

Opener Sagar Pun top scored for TAC making a 39-ball 38 with four boundaries and a six. Skipper Binod Bhandari chipped in 28 and Rajesh Pulami Magar contributed 22 runs to the total. Bikash Shrestha bowled a tight line picking up 3-21 from four overs for Rupandehi. Bashir Ahmed, Bikram Kumar Bhushal and Sandeep Sunar also took a wicket each.

Rupandehi kept losing wickets at regular intervals once seamer Bikram Sob gave them the early initiative. Sob took three wickets. Hari Krishna Jha and Sushan Bhari Shrestha also had two scalps apiece. Nischal Chauhdary batted with some grit for Rupandehi making 26 runs. Sandeep also made 24, while skipper Shakti Gauchan (17) and Saurav Khanal (16) were other batsmen to reach double figures.

Right arm mediam pacer Sob was named the man-of-the-final. Rupandehi’s Sandeep was adjudged the man-of-the-series for his allround performance through out the tournament. He got Rs 25,000. Sagar (batsman) and Rupandehi’s Krishna Karki (bowler) were other individual award winners. They got Rs 10,000 apiece.