Cricket Kitchen

Army Takes Revenge Against Police

March 23, 2026

Kathmandu – Tribhuvan Army Club has taken revenge for its defeat against Nepal Police Club in the final of the Jay Trophy Men’s Elite Cup.

Just last Thursday, Police had defeated Army by 4 wickets in the three-day final to retain the title.

However, on Sunday, Army defeated Police by 22 runs in the Prime Minister (PM) Cup Men’s National Tournament, thanks to a century by Basir Ahmad.

Last year in Bhairahawa, Police had beaten Army by 6 wickets to win the PM Cup. In that match, Basir had scored an unbeaten 86, but Army was all out for 154 runs in 43 overs.

This time, Basir scored 100 runs, helping Army reach 243 runs for 8 wickets in a rain-shortened 47-over match at Mulpani lower ground.

He played this innings when Army was struggling at 58 runs for 4 wickets within 17 overs. Just a month ago, Basir had also scored an unbeaten 105 against Nepal APF Club in the Jay Trophy. In this match, he faced 86 balls, hitting 8 fours and 3 sixes.

With the top four batters failing (Imran Sheikh scored 10, and Kushal Malla scored 7), Basir and experienced Bhim Sharki added 82 runs for the fifth wicket. Bhim scored 62 off 65 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Captain Binod Bhandari scored 5, and Pawan Karki was out for zero. Naren Saud remained unbeaten on 21 off 22 balls.

For Police, Shravan Yadav took 3 wickets, conceding 34 runs in 6 overs. Sagar Dhakal bowled 9 overs (3 maidens) for 34 runs, while Rashid Khan took 2 wickets for 65 runs in 9 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi took 1 wicket for 39 runs in 10 overs.

Police, playing without their key batter Kushal Bhurtel due to injury, were all out for 221 runs in 45.3 overs.

After losing Dinesh Kharel on the first ball and Amit Shrestha for 5, Police came under pressure. Shankar Rana scored 47, Rashid Khan 60, and captain Aarif Sheikh 38. Shankar hit 5 fours and a six off 66 balls, Rashid hit 4 fours and 3 sixes off 83 balls, and Aarif hit 4 fours and 2 sixes off 43 balls.

Dilsad Ali scored 7, Gulshan Jha 10, Karan KC 21, Shravan 15, and Lalit was out for zero.

For Army, Naren Saud took 3 wickets, conceding 53 runs in 10 overs. Saud (likely a typo—another bowler) took 2 wickets for 38 runs in 7 overs, while Kushal, Shahab Alam, Pawan, and Player of the Match Basir took 1 wicket each.

 

APF Wins

With 114 runs from Asif Sheikh, APF defeated Bagmati Province by 31 runs at Upper Mulpani.

After losing the toss and being invited to bat, APF scored 271 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Player of the Match Asif scored 114 off 105 balls, including 14 fours and 2 sixes.

After Deepak Bohara (3) and captain Rohit Paudel (9) were dismissed early, Asif and Sandeep Jora added 103 runs for the third wicket. Jora scored 52 off 53 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Sumit Maharjan scored 18, and Amar Singh Rautela scored 1. Lokesh Bam and Yuvraj Khatri added 52 runs for the seventh wicket. Lokesh scored 21 off 25 balls, while Yuvraj remained unbeaten on 26 off 39 balls. Nandan Yadav (5*) and Kamal Singh Airee (3*) also remained not out.

For Bagmati, Rijan Dhakal took 4 wickets for 44 runs in 10 overs. Ishan Pandey took 2 wickets, while captain Sandeep Lamichhane and Sonu Devkota took one each.

In reply, Bagmati were all out for 240 runs in 45.1 overs. The last-wicket partnership of 53 runs between Rijan and Subash Khatri made the score more respectable.

Subash scored 27 off 54 balls, while Rijan remained unbeaten on 20 off 27 balls.

Bagmati’s top order performed poorly: Ashutosh Ghiraiya (1), Shubh Kansakar (8), Shivam Tiwari (15), and Ishan (13) were all dismissed cheaply. Uttam Thapa Magar scored 26, and Bibek Rana Magar scored 36.

Sonu (7), Pratis GC (6), and Sandeep (0) also failed to contribute significantly.

For APF, Rohit and Abhishek Gautam took 3 wickets each. Rohit conceded 22 runs in 10 overs (2 maidens), and Abhishek conceded 43 runs in 10 overs (2 maidens). Kamal, Nandan, Yuvraj, and Amar took one wicket each.

The tournament began on Saturday in Janakpur (Madhesh Province) and Birgunj. Both matches on the first day were washed out due to rain.

On Monday, Koshi Province will face Lumbini Province in Janakpur, while Karnali will play Sudurpashchim in Birgunj. Matches are scheduled in Kathmandu on Tuesday.