Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal Police Club (NPC) moved to the top of the table with a six-wicket win over Koshi Province in Match No. 21 of the PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament on Tuesday.
Batting first in Birgunj, Koshi were all out for 162 runs in 42.5 overs. Although NPC stumbled early in the chase and were four down for just 11 runs in the eighth over, they recovered to defeat Koshi by six wickets with 97 balls remaining.
Koshi openers added 41 runs for the first wicket. Suman Shrestha made 43 off 94 balls, while Ankit Subedi scored 26 from 41. No. 3 batter Firdosh Ansari was out for a duck, but captain Sujan Thapaliya scored 48 off 42 balls. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed to contribute, with only Shiwash Bajgain (15) reaching double figures. After Thapaliya’s dismissal, Koshi lost their remaining wickets for just 25 more runs.
Dinesh Kharel claimed five wickets to bundle out Koshi for a modest total. Lalit Rajbanshi and Sagar Dhakal picked up two wickets each.
NPC’s top order made a disastrous start to the chase. Dinesh Kharel was out for two, while Shankar Rana, Amit Shrestha, and Dilsad Ali were all dismissed for ducks. However, an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership between Rashid Khan and Aarif Sheikh guided NPC to victory. Rashid scored 73 not out off 90 balls, while captain Aarif Sheikh remained unbeaten on 81 off 79.
Bipin Mahato took two wickets for Koshi, while Dipesh Kandel claimed one.
The defeat leaves Koshi rooted to the bottom of the 10-team table with just one point from five matches.
