Nepal Army made memorable debut in domestic cricket as it lifted the Pepsi Standard Chartered T20 National Cricket Tournament title defeating defending champion Armed Police Force (APF) by five wickets at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Friday.
After its commencement in 2066 BS, the tournament has always found new winner and Army’s victory on Friday maintained it. Region No 3 (Kathmandu) had won the tournament in 2066 BS and then Region No 1 (Biratnagar), Nepal Police and Armed Police Force had emerged as winner in the following editions.
Winner Nepal Army received Rs 125,000 and runner-up APF got Rs 75,000.
Nepal Army team with trophy.
APF elected to bat and put up 112/7 in allotted 16 overs. The match was reduced to 16 overs in each innings due to rain. Chandra Sawad and Rahul Vishwakarma dismissed two APF batsmen each while Aviash Karn, Rajesh Pulami and Sagar Pun claimed a wicket each.
APF failed to build partnership. Openers Paresh Lohani (nine runs off 18 balls) and Subash Khakurel (14 runs off nine balls) put up a 26-run partnership, one of the biggest of the innings. Likewise, Pradeep Airee and captain Paras Khadka (16 runs off nine balls) put up another 26-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Airee garnered 27 runs off 31 balls. Sharad Vesawkar (12 runs) and Dipendra Chaudhary (unbeaten 19 runs) were other contributors for APF.
In reply, Army reached 116/5 in 15.2 overs as skipper Binod Bhandari scored unbeaten 30 runs off 22 balls. Bhandari scored two boundaries and two sixes to seal the victory. Bhandari scored the winning runs with a boundary. Opener Anil Mandal hit 23 runs off 21 balls while Sagar Pun (11 runs), Naresh Budhayer (13 runs), Rajesh Pulami (12 runs) were the other contributors for Army. Paras Khadka and Shakti Gauchan claimed two wickets each for APF while Bhuwan Karki took one.
Binod Bhandari was adjudged man-of-the-match.
Meanwhile, Aakash Bista of Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) was awarded with the best bowler and emerging player of tournament titles. Bista had claimed 15 wickets from the five group-stage matches with a strike rate of eight and economy of 4.05.
APF batsman Gyanendra Malla, who scored 210 runs in the five group-stage matches including two half-centuries, was adjudged the best batsman. He had scored with an average of 52.50 in the group stage. He had scored 90 runs against Region No 1 (Pokhara).
Both Bista and Malla received Rs 10,000 each from organizer Cricket Association of Nepal while Bista got another Rs 20,000 from Nepal Cricket Fan Club for being the emerging player.
Likewise, wicketkeeper batsman Mahesh Chhetri of Nepalgunj received the player-of-the-tournament award. Chhetri had scored 177 runs in four innings with an average of 88.50. He scored three half-centuries during the tournament. He was adjudged man-of-the-match in three matches. He bagged Rs 15,000 for the award.
National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama, Asain Cricket Council Development Officer Rumesh Ratnayake, Varun Bevarage, Nepal CEO Joseph Silvanus, Standard Chartered Bank’s head of corporate affairs Diwakar Paudel and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) officials gave away awards and prizes to the winners.