The “Jay Trophy Men’s Elite Cup,” a test-structured cricket tournament, kicked off on Sunday in Birgunj and Janakpur under the organization of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). On the opening day, all four participating teams began their matches, with bowlers dominating the proceedings.
Nepal Police Club vs. Tribhuwan Army Club : Bowlers Shine as 17 Wickets Fall
In the match between Nepal Police Club and Tribhuvan Army Club at the Birgunj ground, 17 wickets fell on the first day of the two-day game. Winning the toss, Police opted to bowl first, bundling out Army for 121 runs in 34.4 overs. Lalit Rajbanshi was the star for Police, taking seven wickets in 14.4 overs with four maidens while conceding 47 runs. Shrawan Yadav, Rashid Khan, and Kushal Bhurtel contributed with one wicket each.
For Army, Kushal Malla scored the highest with 25 runs, followed by Bhim Sharki (22), captain Binod Bhandari (21), Pawan Karki (15), and Shahab Alam (11).
In reply, Police struggled as well, ending the day at 103/7 in 24 overs, trailing Army by 18 runs. Gulsan Jha (34*) and Prem Tamang (1*) remained unbeaten at the close of play. Amit Shrestha (18), Rashid Khan (16), and Shankar Rana (13) made notable contributions. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Arjun Saud were dismissed for ducks.
Army’s left-arm spinner Shahab Alam was impressive, taking five wickets in his 11 overs while conceding 55 runs, including one maiden. Sompal Kami and Pawan Karki chipped in with one wicket each.
Bagmati Trails by 68 Runs Against Madhesh
In Janakpur, Bagmati Province found themselves 68 runs behind Madhesh Province at the end of the day. At the Ram Janaki Ground, Bagmati scored 34/2 in 13 overs. Opener Shubh Kansakar remained unbeaten on 22, with Ishan Pandey on 9. Madhesh bowlers Rupesh Singh and Bishal Patel picked one wicket each.
Earlier, Madhesh, batting first after losing the toss, was bowled out for 102 runs in 35.3 overs. Opener Mayan Yadav (21) was the top scorer, with Bishal Patel (16), Niraj Yadav (12), Abhishek Tiwari (11), and Himanshu Dutta (10) chipping in with double digits.
Bagmati’s captain Sandeep Lamichhane was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets in 14 overs with two maidens while conceding 41 runs. Surya Tamang claimed three wickets, while Nandan Yadav and Pratish GC grabbed one each.
Key Highlights:
Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane bagged five-wicket hauls for their respective teams.
Bowlers dominated both matches on Day 1, with low-scoring performances by the batting sides.
Police trail Army by 18 runs, while Bagmati lags 68 runs behind Madhesh.
The tournament continues on Monday with the second day’s play.
