Tribhuwan Army Club (TAC) and Himalayan Cricket Academy entered the semi-finals of the 1st National Inter-club Cricket Championship on Sunday.

National team batsman Sharad Vesawkar blasted 18-ball 38 to hand TAC a 59-run win over Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC), while Bhupendra Thapa starred in Himalayan Cricket Academy’s (HCA) 29-run win over Machha-puchhre Cricket Club (MCC).

Held at the Tribhuvan University ground, TAC rode on a quickfire knock from Vesawkar to post 163-6 in 20 overs. KCTC could only manage 104-7 in reply. Vesawkar clobbered three sixes and two fours in his 18-ball unbeaten knock. Rajesh Pulami also scored 29 quick runs, hitting four fours and a six in his 15-ball cameo, while the other national team cricketers Anil Mandal (24) and Rahul Kumar BK (21) also chipped in valuable runs to the TAC total. Robin Chhetri (2-26) and Roshan Sharma (2-35) claimed two wickets each for KCTC.

Skipper Sudhir Maharjan top-scored for the side with 22 runs while Dilip Yadav remained unbeaten on 20. Avinash Karn was pick of the TAC bowler with 2-12.

In the other quarter-final match, HCA scored 151-3 and restricted MCC for 122-6. HCA had Bhupendra Thapa (64), Amar Singh Rautela (30 not out), Arun Airee (27) to thank for piling on the runs. Thapa hit 10 fours and a six in his 49-ball innings, while Rautela struck three boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 20-ball knock.

In reply, Dipesh Khatri struck unbeaten half century but his effort was not enough to prevent his team from defeat as no other batsmen were able to make significant contribution. Khatri hit six fours and a six in his 54-ball 59. Abinash Bohara grabbed two while, Lalit Bhandari, Yagyaman Kumal and Rautela took one wicket each for HCA.