Right arm seamer Jitendra Mukhiya ran riot as Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) entered the semi-finals of the Prime Minister Cup One Day National cricket tournament with a crushing eight-wicket victory over Far-western Region on Saturday.

Farwest needed a victory to keep their slim chances of reaching the semi-finals alive but all their hopes evaporated after Mukhiya picked up six wickets to bundle them out for a tournament-low 50 in 22 overs. Title contenders TAC cantered to victory in just 6.3 overs replying with 51-2.

The result meant TAC and Nepal Police Club (NPC) are tied at the top in Group ‘B’  with four points from two matches and Sunday’s match between the table toppers will decide the pool winners. Farwest and Eastern Region had their match on Friday washed out and they finish the tournament with one point each from three games.

Farwest surprisingly elected to bat first under the damp conditions at the TU grounds due to overnight rain and their decision completely backfired when Mukhiya removed openers Surendra Chand (one) and Roshan Nepali (four) for with just 18 runs on the board.

Spinner Sagar Pun then joined the seamer to pick up two and Mukhiya picked up four more wickets in the middle order including the prized scalp of Santosh Bhatta (six) as Farwest headed towards a humiliating total. Mukhiya was on a hat-trick when he removed Basanta Karki and Anil Kumar Thapa for ducks in the 16th over but Basanta Khatri denied him the treble.

Khatri was the lone batsman to scored in double figures for Farwest making 20 off 27 balls with one four and a six. Khatri was the only player to hit boundaries in Farwest innings before he was trapped leg before wicket by Sushan Bhari Shrestha. Mukhiya returned the figures of 22-6 in 10 overs with three maiden. Sagar had the figures of 3-10 from six overs.

With more forecast conditions expected in the after the noon, TAC cleared their intent by finishing the game early but lost opener Pun (10) in the third over for 21 runs and his partner Anil Mandal (10) in the sixth. Skipper Binod Bhandari, however, finished off the game smashing a 15-ball 21 not out. Pun also hit a six. Farwest used just Sagar Bhandari and Binod Lama with the ball and the duo picked up a wicket each.

The result also earned TAC a winning bonus of Rs 25,000. Mukhiya was the unanimous pick for the man-of-the-match. Sunday will see the final game of Group ‘B’, and the Group ‘A’ games will begin from Monday with the match between Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Western Region. Central Region and Mid-western Region are the other two teams in the pool.

Summary

Tribhuvan Army Club 51-2 in 6.3 overs (B Bhandari 15 not out, S Pun 9; B Lama 1-22, S Bhandari 1-26) beat Farwest 50 all out in 22 overs (B Khatri 20, G Kunwar 8; J Mukhiya 6-22, S Pun 3-1) by eight wickets

Man-of-the-match: J Mukhiya (TAC)