The final match of the Jay Trophy began at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground between defending champion Nepal Police Club and previous season’s runner-up Tribhuvan Army Club on Wednesday.

The final was first slated for March 1-3. Citing March 5 elections, it was rescheduled for April 5-7. However, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), on March 9, rescheduled it again for March 17-19.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Police managed to bundle Army at 221 runs in 58.2 overs.

Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi managed to keep Army’s top-order in check by sending Trit Raj Das (32 off 34), Bhim Sharki (39 off 49) and skipper Binod Bhandari (9 off 17) back to the pavilion. Karan KC then took care of the middle order by bagging three wicktes, while Rashid Khan destroyed the lower order, claiming four wickets in his four overs.

Imran Sheikh was the highest scorer for Army. Reaching his 50 in 135 deliveries, Sheikh was struck leg before by KC two balls later. KC also prevented a bigger score by taking the wickets of Basir Ahamad (30 off 35) and Kushal Malla (38 off 48).

Meanwhile, Police did not have a good start with the bat. Before the umpires called for Stumps on Day 1, Police had lost three wickets while managing 41 runs in 11 overs.

Sompal Kami picked two wickets—Amit Shrestha (1 off 3) and Kushal Bhurtel (18 off 12)—and Aakash Chand got Dilsad Ali (1 off 4) caught behind. Opener Dinesh Kharel (11 off 33) is batting with in-at-five Khan (3 off 14) as Police trail by 180 runs.