By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal Police Club (NPC) sidelined NRNA Sports Academy by 13 runs to march on to the finals of the 34th National Men’s Cricket Tournament.
In the game of 8 overs, NRNA failed to chase a winning target of 111 runs for victory. NRNA scored 97 runs losing 3 wickets in the stipulated 8 overs. Captain Sunam Gautam earned the most runs for NRNA. He scored 46 runs off 25 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. Sagar was sent off for 37 runs off 20 balls.
NRNA needed 43 runs to win in the final 12 balls. Sagar Pun smashed two consecutive sixes off Arif Sheikh on the second and third balls of the seventh over. After that, he failed to hit further boundaries.
NRNA were in search of 26 runs in the last over for the victory. NPC’s Yogendra Singh Karki secured his team’s final spot by taking two wickets expending 12 runs. Dinesh Kharel was dismissed for 4 runs while Prithu Baskota remained unbeaten for 1 run.
NPC, who won the toss and decided to bat first at the TU Cricket Ground collected 110 runs in 8 overs losing 6 wickets. NPC’s Arif Shaikh contributed the highest 36 runs off 15 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.
On the fifth ball of fast bowler Deepak Chhetri’s first over, NPC opener Kushal Bhurtel was caught out by Diwas Giri for 12 runs. In the second ball of the second over, Sunil Dhamala was caught out for 6 runs.
Dipendra Singh Airee and Karan KC were dismissed for 25 and 7 runs respectively. Gulshan Jha remained unbeaten in 7 runs. Diwas Giri of NRNA took 2 wickets. Dinesh Kharel, Deepak Chhetri, and Sunam Gautam booked 1 wicket each.
Far Western Province and NRNA will vie for the bronze on September 16 and on the same day Tribhuvan Army Club will compete against Nepal Police Club for the title of 34th National Men’s Cricket Tournament.
The first semi-final of the day scheduled between Army and Farwestern was affected due to poor pitch conditions. Army reached the final without playing semi-finals.
