Himalayan Cricket Academy (HCA) hammered a star-studded Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) by 40 runs to win the title of first National Inter-club Youth Twenty20 Cricket Championship on Wednesday.

Put in to bat first, three modest contributions lifted HCA—a team comprised of players from Far-west region —to 140-7 in 20 overs. TAC, in reply, were bundled out for 100 runs with 14 balls to spare. Winners HCA earned Rs 101,111 and TAC Rs 50,000.

HCA lost opener Santosh Bhatta (six) early in the game before tournament’s most consistent batsman Bhupendra Thapa consolidated the innings with a 48-run second wicket stand with Bhim Sarki (14). In a quick succession, HCA were reduced to 74-4 after losing Thapa, Sarki and Arun Airee (15). Amar Singh Rautela and Dinesh Agri then made some quick runs guiding the team close to 150-run mark. Rautela smashed 21 off eight balls with two sixes and two boundaries, while Agri scored 24 off 19 with three fours and a six.

Thapa top scored with a 35-ball 30 that included four hits to the fence. Sagar Pun and Jitendra Mukhiya picked up two wickets each for the Army team.

TAC didn’t have any big contributors in the game after HCA’s three seamers shared seven wickets between them. Lalit Singh Bhandari took 3-10 from 3.4 overs, while Abhinash Bohora had 2-19. Yagya Man Kumal took one wicket but leaked 40 runs in four overs. Skipper Bhuwan Karki also picked up two wickets.

Opener Naresh Budhayer top scored for TAC with 23 off 26, hitting two fours and two sixes, while No 9 batsman Chandra Saud scored 17 off eight two sixes and a four. Binod Bhandari (14) and Sharad Vesawkar (12) were other batsmen to make runs in double figures.

Rautela, who also took one wicket, was adjudged the man-of-the-match. Vesawkar won the player-of-the-series award for his 115 runs and six wickets and pocketed Rs 10,000. HCA’s Thapa was named the best batsman after scoring 158 runs, while their skipper Karki (seven wickets) was adjudged the best bowler. Both received Rs 7,500 apiece.