Stand-in skipper Hashim Ansari made a maiden domestic ton but still couldn’t help his Central Region get the better of Nepal Armed Police Force Club in the Prime Minister Cup One Day National cricket tournament on Saturday. 

In the final Group ‘A’ game at the TU grounds, Central made 187 all out in 48.3 overs with Ansari making the most of the runs. APF reached 188-4 in just 34 overs with an unbeaten half century from Anil Sah as the departmental team finished winners in Group ‘A’ with their third consecutive victory. 

APF will now take on Group ‘B’ runners-up Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the semi-finals on Monday. Group ‘A’ runners Western Region will meet Tribhuvan Army Club for a place in the final. Central and Midwest were knocked out from the group stage.

Central innings revolved around Hashim who lifted his team from 104-8 in 32.3 overs following tournament’s first and only century so far. He shared 83 runs for the ninth wicket with Rashid Khan (11) before losing his wicket in the 49th over. Ansari’s 124-ball 101 included 12 fours and a six. Ansari was happy to get into triple figures. 

“ We were five down when I went to bat and I decided to save the wicket and played my natural game and the runs just came in,” said Ansari adding his side was unfortunate to not go through. “We had our match against Mid-western Region washed out and our top order batsmen didn’t click against Western. Its sad to go out without a victory in the tournament,” said Ansari.

Sonu Tamang made the most of the runs among the first five batsmen making 27 from 20 balls with two fours and as many sixes but APF skipper Gyanendra Malla did the damage picking up 4-40 from 10 overs. 

Seamer Avinash Bohora (2-40) and Bhuwan Karki (2-21) also shared our wickets between them for APF. 

The departmental side began the chase with a 48-run partnership between Sandeep Sunar and Aasif Sheikh (22) before the latter was dismissed in the eighth over. Sunar then added another 53 runs for the second wicket with Sah and was bowled by leg spinner Sashi Kesari. He made 41 off 47 with six fours.

APF soon lost Pradeep Airee (two) and Prithu Baskota (one) at 115-4 in 25 overs as Central pushed for what could have been an unlikely victory. Sah and Malla then notched up an unbeaten 73-run stand for the fifth wicket to maintain APF’s unbeaten streak. 

Sah made 78 from 85 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, while Malla scored 28 from 30 with three fours and a maximum. Spinner Keshari took 3-42 from 10 overs.

Summary

Nepal APF Club 188-4 in 34 overs (A Sah 78 not out, S Sunar 41; S Keshari 3-42) beat Central Region 187 all out in 48.3 overs (H Ansari 101, S Tamang 27; G Malla 4-40, B Karki 2-21) by six wickets; Man-of-the-match: G Malla (APF)