Hari Chauhan lit up the Prime Minister Cup One-Day national cricket tournament with a record century as well as a hat-trick to lead Province No 4 to a 129-run victory over Province 1 on Wednesday.

Hari struck exactly 100 runs as Province 4 made tournament’s second highest score of 310-7 in 50 overs after electing to bat first at the Tribhuvan University ground. The 17-year old from Chitwan then capped an exceptional day picking up a treble to polish off the tail as Province 1 were dismissed for 181 in 35 overs.

It is the first instance in domestic cricket that a cricketer has struck a century and picked up a hat-trick in a game. For Hari, the achievement itself was a big surprise. “I am probably in a good form off late. But I never thought the century was going to couple with a hat-trick. It was only after picking up the first two wickets, I thought of a hat-trick,” Hari said.

Hari is so far having a fine form with the bat at the PM Cup having already struck a half century (57 runs) against Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club although it came in a losing cause. The teenaged allrounder has set himself a modest target. “I want to continue with the way I am playing and get into the U-19 national side. It will give me a good exposure,” he added.

His remarkable feat guided Province 4 to their first victory in three games and gives them a slim hope of making it to the semi-finals from Group ‘A’ that also includes another departmental heavyweights Tribhuvan Army Club. Province 4 are second in the table on net run-rate with two points behind APF. TAC are yet to play in the tournament.

At one stage on Wednesday, Province 4 looked like crashing to a below par total after being reduced to 73-4 in 30.3 overs. Hari stepped in and shared 52-run stand for the fifth wicket with Manzil Neupane (28) to bring his side back in the game. The No 4 batsman added another 136 runs for the sixth wicket with Suma Ghimire to turn the match on its head.

Hari finally departed after hitting eight fours and a six in his 115-ball knock. Suma scored an all-important 83 off 53 balls with six sixes and as many boundaries, while Bipin Khatri struck a nine-ball 23 with two sixes and as many fours. Pushpa Thapa and Sandeep Dhungana took two wickets each for Province 1.

Hari struck early in Province 1 reply removing opener Ravi Roy for a duck. Sandeep did the bulk of scoring while sharing a 68-run second wicket partnership with Rajan Magar (10). Province 1 innings began to crumble and were tottering at 145-7 in 26.5 overs. Firdosh Ansari (13) and Sarwan Yadav (19 not out) offered a brief resistance with a 36-run partnership before Hari cast his magic.

He first had Firdosh caught by skipper Bidhan Shrestha behind the wicket and next ball trapped Manoj Tamang leg before wicket. The hat-trick came after Hari bowled Avyash Timalsina. Hari returned with figures of 4-19 from five overs. Khatri and Raju Gurung also took two wickets apiece. Sandeep top scored for Province 1 with a 55-ball 71, hitting nine fours and three sixes.

The Group ‘B’ match between Province 7 and Province 5 had to be abandoned due to rain at the Mulpani Cricket Ground. After a delayed start, only eight overs were possible when rain returned and forced the players off the field. Province 7 were 19-2 at the time. They currently lead the table with three points from three matches. NPC are second with two points from one match.

Summary

Province Four 310-7 in 50 overs (H Chauhan 100, S Ghimire 83; S Dhungana 2-37, P Thapa 2-65) beat Province One 181 in 35 overs (S Dhungana 71, S Yadav 19, M Thapa 19; H Chauhan 4-19, B Khatri 2-22) by 129 runs

Man-of-the-match: H Chauhan