Province 3 led by national team skipper Paras Khadka bounced back from the opening game defeat to record their first win in the PM Cup National One-Day cricket tournament on Monday.

Province 3 made short work of Province 5 in their six-wicket win at the Mulpani cricket ground. The win comes two days after Province 3 fell short in their chase of 289 runs against APF club on Saturday, losing the match by 41 runs despite Gyanendra Malla scoring a spectacular century (117).

On Monday, Province 5 were dismissed for 122 runs in 42 overs after sent into bat first. Province 3 eased to victory for the loss four wickets in 21.5 overs.

Shubhendu Pandey top scored for Province 5 with 20 while Suraj Daral chipped in 18. Sandeep Sunar (14) and Saurav Khanal (13) were the only other batsmen to make runs of any note. Province 3 skipper Khadka claimed four wickets conceding 24 runs while man-of-the-match Surya Tamang took 3-16 in his economical 10-over spell. Nandan Yadav also snared two and Pratish GC one wicket.

Openers Rit Gautam and Rabin Joshi set up an easy run chase for Province 3 putting on 72 for the first wicket. Gautam blitzed 37 off just 29 balls with seven hits to the fence, while Joshi scored 35 off 41 balls with five boundaries. Ishan Pandey (21) and Aadil Khan (12) completed the chase after four wickets fell in quick succession including that of skipper Khadka (1) and Avishek Basnet (2). Anil Kharel and Siddhanta Shahi claimed two wickets each for Province 5.

At the TU Stadium, Nepal Armed Police Force Club were made to sweat in a battling three-wicket victory over Sudurpaschim Province. Electing to bat first, Sudurpaschim innings feature five run outs before they were skittled out for just 125 in 37.1 overs. APF were reduced to 69-5 but skipper Prithu Baskota held firm leading his side to 127-7 in 34.4 overs.

APF had a modest start when their opener Sharad Vesawkar did the majority of scoring in a 36-run opening wicket stand with Aasif Sheikh (three). The 36 without loss took no time to read 69-5 after they lost Vesawkar, Sheikh, Shankar Rana (one), Sumit Maharjan (15) and Pradeep Airee (10) in a quick succession.

Former U-19 skipper Baskota came to the rescue adding 40 runs for the sixth wicket with Sundeep Jhora to avoid any humiliation. APF did lose Jhora and new man Bhuwan Karki (two) in quick succession but by that time they were already closing in on victory. Man-of-the-match Baskota made 32 off 47 with five hits to the fence.

Jhora’s 26-ball 22 included a six and a four. Binod Lama was the pick of the Sudurpaschim bowlers taking 3-35 from 10 overs, while captain Sher Malla had two scalps.

Sudurpaschim had an identical start after openers Bipin Rawal and Khadak Bohora (19) added 31 runs for the first wicket. They were right in the game at 96-4 in 26 overs but once they lost Malla, Sudurpaschim went on to lose six wickets—three of them run outs—in a space of 31 runs.

Lokesh Bam top scored for them with a 58-ball 30 hitting one boundary. Rawal was the next best making 21 off 51 with two hits to the fence. Avinash Bohora took two wickets for the departmental team.