SATV, Kathmandu, Apr 7: Arjun Saud's ton guided Tribhuwan Army Club to a comprehensive 138-run victory over Karnali Province and remained unbeaten while Sudur Paschim Province suffered their second defeat with a 45-run defeat to APF Club at the PM Cup on Monday. 

The fifth win in a row send Army to top of the table with 11 points from six matches while Sudur Paschim failed to maintain their one point lead after conceding their second defeat. Sudur Paschim have 10 points from seven matches. The third win lifted APF to sixth with 7 points from seven matches.

Batting first at Narayani Cricket Ground in Birgunj, Army overcame the top order collapse to score 268 runs before being all out in the 48 overs. Karnali, in chase, collapsed in 42.1 over adding just 130 runs.

Karnali were nowhere in the contest as they lost wickets in regular interval. Bipin Shahi (40), Arjun Gharti (32) and Dipendra Rawat (25) provided some resistance with two digit score but remaining batter failed against the discipline bowling of Army. 

Shahab Alam (3-18) and Basir Ahamad  (3-15) shared six wickets to destroy Karnali's batting. Aakash Chand also dismissed two wickets from his seven over spell. 

Earlier, Army did not have the start they wanted. Their top four batters returned to pavilion for single digit with Opener Trit Raj Das falling for duck. Saud and Ahamad catapult the Army's innings from 38/4 to 137 with 99-run stand for the fifth wicket.  Ahamad added 45 off 70 balls. Santosh Karki (29), Naren Saud (20) and Shahab Alam (17) then returned to pavilion contributing two-digit score.

Arjun was the last batter to be out. He smacked 10 boundaries and three sixes in his 120 runs off 121 balls. 

Dinesh Adhikari was the pick of the bowler for Karnali with a figure of 23-4 while Prakash Jaishi also had three-wicket haul.  

APF secure third win

Powered by Yuvraj Khatri’s outstanding bowling, AFP stunned second-placed Sudur Paschim to secure their third win at Ramjanki Multipurpose Stadium in Janakpur.

Chasing a target of 260, Sudurpaschim were bowled out for 214 in 46.3 overs. Opener Abhishek Pal scored 44, but the rest of the top order failed to settle. Ashok Dhami, batting at number six, struck 50 off 43 balls with seven fours and a six, becoming his side’s highest scorer. 

Other contributions came from Dipak Bohara (24), Milan Bohara (23), Khadak Bohora (16), and Naren Bhatta (15), while captain Sher Malla remained unbeaten on 17.

For APF, Khatri was the star, taking 5 wickets for 34 runs in his 10 overs. Avishek Gautam added 2 wickets, while Kamal Airee and Rohit Paudel chipped in with one apiece.

Earlier, APF posted 259 for 9 in their 50 overs. Opener Aasif Sheikh fell for just 1, and captain Rohit Paudel managed 11. 

Sundeep Jora top‑scored with 55 off 45 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. Opener Deepak Bohara made 46, Sumit Maharjan 41, and Lokesh Bam 47. Maharjan and Bam paired for 77 runs for the sixth wicket.

Sudur Paschim’s bowling was led by Sher Malla, who claimed 3 wickets, while Ashok Dhami and Bikash Aagri took 2 each.

CAN assembly in Biratnagar

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has decided to host its annual general assembly on 10–11 May in Biratnagar, Koshi Province. The decision was taken at the board meeting held on Monday.

The meeting also endorsed the annual cricket calendar and budget, according to a press release issued by CAN. The income–expenditure report of the second Nepal Premier League (NPL), submitted by the NPL Governing Council, was approved.

According to the report, the second edition of the NPL generated a total gross revenue of Rs 473,600,559. 

Tournament expenses amounted to Rs 219,605,123, leaving a gross income of Rs 253,995,435 before revenue sharing. CAN distributed 50 percent of the revenue — Rs 161,873,500 — to the eight franchise teams, while the cricket body retained Rs 92,121,935.

In line with ICC funding directives, USD 500,000 will be allocated to women’s cricket development from this year.  The executive board also decided to request the government to renew the contract of TU Cricket Ground, which is nearing expiry, and to hand over the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground, currently under the National Sports Council.

Furthermore, CAN resolved to extend the tenure of 20 district associations, whose four‑year terms have ended, by two months.