Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Province No 7 registered contrasting victories in the Prime Minister Cup One Day National cricket tournament on Saturday.

National cricket team’s new entrant Anil Sah struck a fluent half century as APF hammered Province 1 by nine wickets at the Mulpani Cricket Ground. Province 7, meanwhile, climbed to the top of Group ‘B’ table but struggled to beat Province No 3 by two wickets in a low scoring game at the TU Stadium. APF also climbed to the top in Group ‘A’ following their second consecutive win and pushed Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) to second on net run rate.

After a delayed start due to wet outfield in Mulpani, six out of seven APF bowlers used in the game picked up wickets to skittle out Province 1 for just 127 in 42 overs. The match was reduced to 45-over-a-side but APF displayed their might scampering to victory in just 16.3 overs replying with 130-1.

Pradeep Airee gave APF a quick start striking five crispy boundaries before losing his wicket to Sandeep Dhungana for a 19-ball 23. Anil and Prithu Baskota then shared an unbeaten 100-run partnership for the second wicket with the former doing the bulk of scoring. Man-of-the-match Anil hit five fours and three sixes to make 48-ball 62. Prithu scored a run-a-ball 32 with five hits to the fence.

Earlier, Sandeep made runs from the top order making a 64-ball 29 with two fours and a six. A 33-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Minash Thapa and Pushpa Thapa (20) was the only bright spot for Province 1.

Minash hit a 49-ball 27 with four boundaries before losing his wicket to Pawan Sarraf. Karan KC, Bhuwan Karki, skipper Basanta Regmi and Amar Singh Routela picked up two wickets each for APF.

In Kirtipur, Sher Malla and Bikash Agri shared seven wickets between them to squeese out Province 3 for just 116 runs in 33.3 overs. Province 3 did hit back with the ball but Province 7 still managed to reach 117-8 in

39.4 overs.

Province 3 reduced Province 7 to 55-4 before a 37-run partnership between Bijay Rana and Arun Airee (21) took them close to victory. Skipper Jitendra Singh Thakuri kept Province 3 in the game taking two wickets in two balls including that of Arun. Province 7 went on to lose four wickets in a space of 15 runs, the last being Bijay but Binod Lama (eight) and Bikram Thagunna (three) held firm to negotiate with the target.

Sanju Damai topscored for Province 7 with a 33-ball 25 with three boundaries and a six. Bijay made 24 from 86 hitting one four. Sagar Dhakal also took two wickets for Province 3.

Jitendra had given an allround performance after the captain opening with the bat to make 40 from 77 balls that included four fours and a six. But Sher and Bikash continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals before Province 3 innings shut down for a low total.

Sonu Tamang hit a 20-ball 29 with three fours and two sixes down the order. Man-of-the-match Sher returned the figures of 4-27 from 10 overs, while Bikash took 3-28 from 5.3. Binod was economical in his 10 overs conceding just 15 runs picking up the prized wicket of Jitendra.

Summaries

Nepal Armed Police Force Club 130-1 in 16.3 overs (A Sah 62 not out, P Baskota 32 not out; S Dhungana 1-19) beat Province One 127 all out in 42 overs (S Dhungana 29, M Thapa 27; K KC 2-14, B Karki 2-24) by nine wickets

Man-of-the-match: A Sah

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Province Seven 117-8 in 39.4 overs (S Damai 25, B Rana 24; S Dhakal 2-20, JS Thakuri 2-26) beat Province Three 116 all out in 33.3 overs (JS Thakuri 40, S Tamang 29; S Malla 4-27, B Aagri (3-28) by two wickets

Man-of-the-match: S Malla