Sports
Police edge Province 2 to secure semis berth
Following Police's qualification to knockout rounds on the last day of the group stage game, all three departmental teams have secured last-four berths.Sports Bureau
Nepal Police Club edged Province 2 by four wickets to qualify for the semi-finals of Prime Minister Cup National one-day cricket tournament as Group 'B' runners up at the Mulpani cricket grounds on Monday.
Following Police's entry to the semis on the last day of the group stage, all three departmental teams have secured their berths in the last four. Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Tribhuvan Army Club were assured of semi-final spots from Group 'A' with a match in hand. Police, who wrapped up the group stage with six points, finished one point behind table toppers Bagmati Province replacing Lumbini from second place.
In another match at the TU grounds, APF saw off Army by six runs to finish on top of Group 'A' with maximum eight points. Army finished runners up with six points after first defeat in the group stage.
Police will vie with Group 'A' winners APF in the semi-final at TU grounds on Wednesday while Army will take on Group 'B' winners Bagmati at the same venue on Thursday.
Police, seeking a must-win outcome to secure a knockout round birth, invited Province 2 to bat first and restricted them to 169-9 in the match reduced to 47 overs per side due to wet outfield. Chasing the moderate target, the departmental side made 170-6 in 38 overs.
Opener Harishankar Shah was the highest scorer for Province 2 with 53 runs. He hit five fences and a six in his 84-ball knock before being run out. None of the other batsmen made remarkable contributions as his opening partner Himanshu Dutta was out for 16 runs while Ravi Singh and Bishal Shusling scored equal 12 runs.
Captain Suraj Kurmi and Aadil Ansari who scored 13 and 15 runs respectively were the other batsmen to touch double figures.
Police's Lalit Rajbanshi was the most successful bowler with four wickets under his belt. The man-of-the-match gave away 37 run in his eight over spell with a maiden over. Sagar Dhakal grabbed two wickets.
Police's opener Kushal Bhurtel scored 43 runs while wicketkeeper batsman Anil Sah contributed unbeaten 47 runs. Bhurtel shared a 46-run partnership for the first wicket with opener Sunil Dhamala who contributed 13 runs. He hit three fences and a six before being trapped leg before by Kumar Thapa.
Sah hit four fences in his 69-ball knock. Amit Shrestha and Dipendra Singh Airee contributed equal 17 runs apiece while captain Manjeet Shrestha remained not out on 12 runs.
Province 2 bowler Bibek Yadav and Kumar Thapa grabbed three wickets each.
At the TU grounds, put into bat first APF were bowled out for 240 runs with two balls to spare. In the run chase, Army made a slow start to their innings and were restricted to 234-8.
APF's innings were built on moderate contributions from top seven batsmen except opener Asif Sheikh who was out for seven runs. His opening partner Subash Khakurel contributed 38 runs, skipper Sharad Vesawkar 24 runs, Sumit Maharjan 46 runs, Sundeep Jora 28 runs, Basant Regmi 20 runs and Amar Routela 26 runs. APF's highest scorer Maharjan hit five fours and two sixes in his 68-ball knock. They were also gifted with an extra 39 runs.
Army bowler Hari Chauhan grabbed the highest five wickets while Shahab Alam took two wickets. Chauhan conceded 60-run in his 9.4 overs bowling giving away 60 runs.
In the run chase, Army players also came up with a collective batting effort and kept their fight until the last over before they succumbed to defeat.
Army opener Anil Malla, who was run out by Kishore Mahato, was the highest scorer with 45 runs. He hit eight fours in his 76-ball knock. His opening partner Lokesh Bam contributed 21 runs, Rohit Paudel 30 runs, Bhim Sharki 27 runs, Rajesh Pulami 33 runs, Bikram Sob 28 runs while Aakash Chand and Shahab Alam remained not out for 16 and 20 runs respectively. Hari Chauhan and skipper Binod Bhandari were both out for duck.
APF's Kamal Airee claimed three wickets and was named the man of the match. Bhuvan Karki pocketed two wickets.