Nepal Police Club had defeated Tribhuvan Army Club by 28 runs on January 16 last year to lift the Jay Trophy. Both the teams are contesting for the title this season as well.

And as the second day of the three-day final ended at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground on Wednesday, Police have kept their hopes high to lift the trophy consecutively.

Trailing by 180 runs by the end of Day 1 with the score at 41/3 in 11 overs, Police equalled Army’s score in 61.4 overs on Day 2 as they got bundled out at 221. In-at-nine Karan KC was the hero with the bat for Police as he stayed not out at 72 off 109.

Sompal Kami, meanwhile, bagged a fifer for Army.

As Police levelled Army’s first innings’ score, whatever Army post on the scoreboard in their second innings will be the target for Police.

And when the umpires called for Stumps on Day 2, Army had only one wicket remaining with a not-so-good total on the board. In 52 overs, Army were at 178/9.

Army’s top-order—Trit Raj Das (20 off 37), Imran Sheikh (16 off 28) and Bhim Sharki (32 off 52)—departed after average contributions. The middle order only saw Kushal Malla (36 off 58) adding some runs to the board before in-at-nine Shahab Alam, a dedicated bowler, scored the second-highest run of the innings with 33 off 31.

KC, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Sagar Dhakal bagged three wickets each for Police.

Aakash Chand (15 off 36) and Kami (0 off 7) are batting for Army.

Police aim to take the last wicket of Army as soon as the match resumes on Thursday and chase the target at the earliest.