Sushan Bhari’s six-wicket haul helped Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) finish as Group ‘B’ winners with a seven-wicket win over Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the Prime Minister Cup cricket tournament at the Tribhuvan University grounds on Sunday.

In a match between the teams already qualified for the semi-finals, NPC were shot out for a meagre 109 runs in 25.5 overs thanks largely to Bhari.

The Army team cruised to victory for the loss of three wickets in 30.4 overs. The Group ‘B’ winners Army team will play the Group ‘A’ runners-up, while NPC will take on Group ‘A’ winners in the semi-finals. The Group ‘A’ matches starts from Monday.

Army bowling spearhead Sompal Kami landed a massive blow on NPC with a double strike in the first over to send NPC openers Sunil Dhamala (0) and Amit Shrestha (0) back to pavilion.

Dilip Nath and Dipendra Singh Airee (22) tried to resurrect the NPC innings with some sensible batting. But wickets kept falling at one end and eventually they were bowled out for a low total. 

Nath fought a lonely battle with a half century and was the eighth man to be out. Nath struck four boundaries in his 71-ball 50. Apart from Airee, who hit four fours in his 27-ball knock, no other NPC batsman were able to score in double figures. Bhari, who was named man-of-the-match, returned with figures of 6-16 off 7.5 overs, while Sagar Pun (2-26) and Kami (2-38) claimed two wickets each for the Army team.

In reply, the Army team were themselves reduced to 37-3 by the 15th over after losing Mahesh Chhetri (11), Pun (11) and Anil Kumar Mandal (1) cheaply.

But Naresh Budhayer and skipper Binod Bhandari put on an unbroken 76-run fourth wicket stand to steer TAC to victory.

Bhandari was more aggressive of the two batsmen hitting seven boundaries and a six in his 50-ball 46.

Budhayer made 41, his 74-ball unbeaten knock studded with three fours and a six. Lalit Bhandari took two and Sushil Kandel one wicket for NPC.

Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club will take on Western Region in the first Group ‘A’ match on Monday.

Summary

Tribhuvan Army Club 113-3 in 30.4 overs (B Bhandari 46*, N Budhayer 41*; L Bhandari 2-40, S Kandel 1-19) beat NPC 109 in 25.5 overs (D Nath 50, DS Airee 22; S Bhari 6-16, S Pun 2-26, S Kami 2-38) by seven wickets; Man-of-the-match: S Bhari