PM Cup: Sudurpashchim thrash Bagmati, Lumbini defeat NPC by 50 runs

KATHMANDU: Sudurpashchim Province and Lumbini Province won their respective matches of the PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament on Sunday.

Sudurpashchim hammered Bagmati by 163 runs to go to the top of the table, while Lumbini defeated Nepal Police Club (NPC) by 50 runs.

Sudurpashchim vs Bagmati
Batting first in Match No. 28 in Janakpur, Sudurpashchim were all out for a low total of 209 runs in 50 overs. However, they bundled out Bagmati for 46 runs in 11.2 overs as Hemant Dhami claimed seven wickets, giving just 14 runs in his six-over spell.

Although Sudurpashchim’s top order fell cheaply, except for opener Abhishek Pal, who made 39 off 35 balls, and lower-order batter Dipak Bohara scored 40 off 47. Likewise, No.8 batter Narayan Joshi scored 75 off 68 balls to take the team’s total close to 200. Ashok Dhami remained not out at 17 off 23 balls.

Pratis GC and Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets each for Bagmati, while Rijan Dhakal and Sonu Devkota picked up one each.

Bagmati saw a batting collapse despite chasing a low target of 210 runs. Although opener Shubh Kansakar scored 32 off 25 balls, none of their other batters reached double digits. Five of them were out for duck.

Hemant Dhami was the chief tormentor for Bagmati as he picked up an impressive seven wickets. Sher Malla claimed three wickets.

Lumbini vs NPC
Btting first in Match No. 29 in Birgunj, Lumbini scored 256 in 29.5 overs as opener Ranjeet Khadka struck a magnificent century. Despite chasing a modest total, NPC were bundled out for 206 runs in 42.5 overs.

The opening pair of Khadka and Captain Dev Khanal (14) added 65 runs for the first wicket for Lumbini. After Khanal fell, Aakash scored 36 off 57 balls for Lumbini. Although Lumbini lost wickets at regular intervals, Khadka took the team’s total past 200 runs with a run-a-ball 128. Darsh Sonar contributed 33 off 35 balls.

Lalit Rajbansi claimed three wickets for NPC, while Rashid Khan and Dinesh Kharel picked up two each, and Karan KC and Deepak Serala chipped in with a wicket each.

In reply, NPC folded for 206 runs, despite a 104-ball 94 runs by Dinesh Kharel. Sarwan Yadav scored 36, Dilsad Ali made 22, and Shankar Rana made 12 for NPC. Other NPC batters failed to reach double digits.

Ajay Chauhan claimed four wickets for Lumbini, while Captain Khanal picked up three wickets for Lumbini. Bir Magar and Nirmal Gurung had a wicket each to their names.

Both teams are third on the table with seven points each after six matches.