Nepal Police Club edged NRNA Sports Club by 13 runs in the Twenty20 match under Ninth National Games to set up the title clash against Tribhuvan Army Club, who progressed to the final without playing a single ball in the last four clash on Thursday.

The day’s early kickoff at the TU ground in Kirtipur between Army and Sudurpaschim Province was abandoned even without a toss due to wet outfield as a result of overnight rain. Army were then declared the winners as the table toppers in the group rounds. Army had made it to the semi-final as Group ‘A’ winners while Sudurpaschim had progressed as Group ‘B’ runners up.

It was the 17th match washed out in the tournament. At the group stage, 16 of the 25 matches were abandoned due to rainfall.

The third place and final matches are scheduled for Friday. Army had defeated Police by 13 runs in the group stage.

In the second match reduced to eight overs per side at the same venue, Police, electing to bat first, posted 110-6 and restricted NRNA at 97-3.

Police’s number four batter Aarif Sheikh played a quickfire 15-ball 36 while captain Dipendra Singh Airee smashed 25 off 12 to create the base for victory. Sheikh hit three fences and maximums each before being caught by Basu Giri in a delivery by Diwas Giri. Airee hit two fences and a six before his dismissal.

Karan KC was the other remarkable contributor smashing 18 runs off 8. He hit two sixes before being stumped by Dipen Shrestha. Opener Kushal Bhurtel contributed 5-ball 12 that included two sixes. Sunil Dhamala contributed six runs and Gulshan Jha remained not out on three runs.

NRNA bowler Diwas claimed two wickets while Deepak Chhetry, captain Sunam Gautam and Dinesh Kharel picked one scalp each. Diwas gave away 28 runs in his two-over spell.

Chasing the target, Sagar Pun and Gautam shared an 83-run partnership for the second wicket after opener Dinesh Kharel was dismissed on four runs. Pun and Gautam, however, failed to maintain the run rate despite making remarkable contributions.

Skipper Gautam contributed 25-ball 46 that included two fences and four sixes before being caught by Bhurtel off Yogendra Singh Karki. Pun hit 37 off 20 that included four fences. He was caught by Karan KC in Karki’s delivery. Prithu Baskota remained not out on one run.

Apart from Karki’s two wicket haul, Pawan Sarraf picked one wicket. Karki gave away 12 runs in his one over bowling. But captain Airee’s economic bowling figure was instrumental in Police’s victory as he gave away 18 runs in his two-over haul.