Nepal Police Club (NPC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) set the title clash of the first Ruslan Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on Friday.

NPC stunned title favourites Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club by five wickets with veteran Shakti Gauchan’s heroic effort going in vain. TAC, meanwhile, eased to an eight-wicket victory over New Horizon Club of Butwal riding on an allround performance from Sagar Pun.

In a departmental duel, APF needed a half century from opener Subash Khakurel to make 122-8 in 20 overs. A fine 75-run second wicket stand between Shankar Rana and Amit Shrestha helped NPC reach 123-5 in 18.5 overs.

NPC lost opener Sunil Dhamala (16) with 22 runs on the board before Rana and Shrestha consolidated the chase, taking the team close to victory. Both batsmen fell in a space of three runs at 99-3 but the total was too small for APF to defend. Rana made a 49-ball 36 with four boundaries and a six, while Shrestha scored 34 from 30 with three fours and a six.

Veteran left arm spinner picked up 4-13 from four overs but his effort was not enough. Earlier, Khakurel gave APF a decent start with a 42-run partnership for the first wicket with Paresh Khakurel (eight). Khakurel added another 49 runs for the second wicket with Pradeep Airee but APF failed to cut loose in the closing stages of their innings.

Khakurel’s 43-ball innings included six hits to the fence and a six, while Airee made 25 off 28 with three boundaries. Skipper Gyanendra Malla chipped in a 12-ball 16 with two fours. Man-of-the-match Manjeet Shrestha took 3-29 from four overs for NPC and Dipendra Airee took two wickets.

The first semi-final turned out to be a one-side affair after TAC bundled out New Horizon for a paltry 84 in 20 overs as Pun destroyed the middle order. Pun returned to open the innings and gave TAC a desired start before they reached 88-2 in 14.5 overs.

Pun top scored with a 29-ball 26 hitting three fours and a six. TAC lost openers Pun and Anil Mandal (11) but Naresh Budhayer (20) and Binod Bhandari (18) guided the team safely home with a 36-run unbroken partnership.

New Horizon only had their top three batsmen—Nirmal Thapa (20), Sandeep Sunar (18) and Nurdhoj Sen (15)—contributing runs before man-of-the-match Pun returned with the figures of 4-10 from four overs. Chandra Sawad also took 3-20 for TAC. The final is slated for Saturday.