Bagmati’s skipper Sandeep Lamichhane won the toss and elected to bat first against Nepal Police Club at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The decision seemed proper as Bagmati managed 265 runs on the board before getting all out in 49.2 overs. A 124-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Ishan Pandey and Pawan Thapa was very helpful for Bagmati.

The partnership between Pandey (70 off 80) and Thapa (79 off 101) was the highest fourth-wicket partnership in the Men’s PM Cup’s history.

However, Nepal Police Club pulled off an even bigger partnership that led the departmental side to complete the chase with six overs and seven wickets in hand.

Dinesh Kharel and Shankar Rana opened for Police and refused to return to the pavilion. Dropped at 68, Kharel could not capitalise on the lifeline and got stumped at 70 off 75.

However, by the time Kharel departed, he had built a record-breaking partnership with Rana. A 159-run partnership for the first wicket between the two was the biggest partnership in the tournament’s history.

Rana, on the other hand, shone the brightest as he completed his century. When Rana departed at 116 off 128, Police required 17 runs in eight overs.

Skipper Aarif Sheikh (43 off 47) accumulated the remaining runs with Rashid Khan (10 off 2).

Meanwhile, Army registered a seven-wicket win over Gandaki Province at Lower Mulpani.

Gandaki won the toss and decided to bat first. The provincial side then reached 209 while getting bundled out with two balls remaining in the first innings. Arjun Kumal (67 off 102) managed his consecutive fifty in the tournament, and Deepak Dumre also made a mark with 51 off 45 against Army.

In turn, Army saw half-centuries from openers Trit Raj Das (51 off 58) and Binod Bhandari (58 off 57). Bhim Sharki (54 off 53), who stayed not out, also managed an individual fifty, while Kushal Malla fell short of seven runs.

After smashing a four in the last ball of the 34th over by Kamal Pariyar, Malla reached 43 off 42, and Army 210/3.

Police and Army now have four points each and are at the top of the points table. It was a consecutive loss for both Gandaki and Bagmati.

Lumbini are facing Madhesh and Koshi will face Sudurpashchim during the two fixtures in Janakpur and Birgunj on Friday, respectively.