Cricket

Spurred on by skipper Dipendra Singh Airey’s scintillating century, Nepal Police Club beat Group ‘B’ rivals Bagmati Province by 192 runs in the Prime Minister's Cup National One-Day Cricket Tournament on Sunday.

After Bagmati won the toss and put them into bat at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, NPC scored 289 runs, losing five wickets in 50 overs. 

In reply, Bagmati could muster only 97 runs before being cleaned up in 28 overs.
Captain Airey played an impressive knock, making 118 off 82 balls with 11 fours and four sixes. He completed the century in just 77 balls.

He was bowled out by Bagmati fast bowler Nandan Yadav in the second ball of the 48th over. The NPC captain had lifted the bowler for a six in the previous ball.

After openers Sunil Dhamala and Kushal Bhurtel laid a solid platform for the police team, Airey and Arif Sheikh consolidated the innings sharing a 136-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Arif scored 36 runs off 68 balls with a four and a six.

Earlier, Dhamala got the NPC off to a good start, scoring 37 runs off 23 balls with five fours and a six. Bhurtel made 37 runs from 72 balls with four boundaries. Dilip Nath remained unbeaten on 12 runs and Pawan Saraf on 15 runs.

For Bagmati, Yadav took two wickets for 73 runs in 10 overs, while Ramnaresh Giri, Surya Tamang and Sonu Devkota picked one wicket each.

Chasing the victory target of 290 runs, Bagmati, opener Ishan Pandey scored 24, Ramnaresh Giri made 22 not out, Pratish GC (14). But other batsmen, including captain Gyanendra Malla, fell by the wayside. 

NPC captain Airey returned with the ball to snare three wickets, while Sagar Dhakal, Gulshan Jha and Karan KC took one wicket each to complete a comprehensive win.

NPC play Province 1 at the same venue on Monday, while Bagmati take on Lumbini Pradesh on Tuesday.