Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal APF Club and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) won their respective matches in the PM Cup Men’s National Tournament on Monday.
Nepal APF defeated Sudurpashchim Province by 45 runs, while TAC hammered Karnali Province by 138 runs.
Nepal APF vs Sudurpashchim
Batting first in Match No. 30 in Janakpur, Nepal APF Club scored 259 runs for the loss of nine wickets. In reply, Sudurpashchim folded for 214 runs in 46.3 overs.
A win on Monday would have taken Sudurpashchim to the top of the table.
Although opener Aasif Sheikh (1) and No.3 batter Captain Rohit Paudel (11), other opener Deepak Bohora, and Sundeep Jora steadied the inning for Nepal APF. Bohora scored 46 off 68 balls, while Jora struck 55 from 45 balls. Lokesh Bam scored 47, while Kamal Airee scored an unbeaten 13 and Amar Routela contributed 12 for Nepal APF.
Sher Malla claimed three wickets for Sudurpashchim, while Bikahsh Aagri and Ashok Dhami picked up two each, and Hemant Dhami and Naren Bhatta each chipped in with a wicket for Sudurpashchim.
In reply, Sudurpashchim’s top-order struggled against Nepal APF bowlers. Although opener Abhishek Pal made 44, Khadak Bohoara, Naren Bhatta, and Kiran Thagunna were out for 16, 15, and 0, respectively. Ashok Dhami kept Sudurpashchim on the hunt with a composed 50 off 43 balls. However, except for Milan Bohora (23), Captain Sher Malla (17), and Bikas Aagri (13), other Sudurpashchim batters failed to reach double digits.
Yuvraj Khatri claimed five wickets for Nepal APF, while Abishek Gautam picked up two, and Kamal Airee and Rohit Paudel had a wicket each to their names.
TAC vs Karnali
TAC jumped to the top of the table with a 138-run mauling of Karnali in Match No. 31 in Birgunj.
Batting first, TAC scored 268 runs, helped largely by Arjun Saud’s 121 off 120 balls. The departmental side then bundled out Karnai for 130 runs in 42.1 overs.
Karnali bowlers made early inroads in the match, removing TAC’s top four batters with just 38 runs on the board in nine overs. However, No. 5 batter Saud rescued the innings with the support of Basir Ahamad (45), Santosh Karki (29), Naren Saud (20), and Shahab Alam (17).
Dinesh Adhikari claimed four wickets for Karnali while Prakash Jaishi took three, and Raj Shah, Bipin Sharma, and Dipendra Rawat claimed one each.
Karnali batters struggled in the chase of 269. Their top three batters were out with just 20 runs on board in the sixth over. Bipin Shahi offered some resistance with a 70-ball 40, while Arjun Gharti made 32 off 58 balls and Dipendra Rawat scored 25. Other Karnali batters failed to reach double digits.
Basir Ahamad and Shahab Alam claimed three wickets each for TAC, while Aakash Chand picked up two, and Dugesh Gupta and Naren Saud chipped in with a wicket each.
