Rukum West and Help Nepal Secure Consecutive Straight-Set Victories in PM Cup

Sachit Subba

Sports Analyst

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Clinical Machhindra Shatter NRT’s Hat-Trick Hopes in Ilam Gold Cup Final

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Football

Clinical APF Brush Aside Church Boys to Secure Gold Cup Final Berth

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Two Wins from Two for Police and New Diamond in 10th 10th PM Cup Women's Volleyball league

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Football

Clinical Machhindra Shatter NRT’s Hat-Trick Hopes in Ilam Gold Cup Final

Machhindra Football Club triumphantly captured the third edition of the Ilam Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over defending champions New Road Team (NRT) in eastern Nepal. With seasoned national stars and spirited emerging talent on display, the final delivered edge-of-your-seat intensity. After a tense, scoreless first half, Machhindra electrified the game: Saurav Subba struck in the 47th minute, and Milan Chamling followed swiftly just three minutes later to seal an unforgettable victory. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/j8lnNQgwIJRoO1lFSeunZ5QgSggCeFU8KMOVzsGN.jpg) Machhindra celebrated with a 1 million NPR prize and the coveted trophy, while NRT proudly took home 500,000 NPR as runners-up. Under the dynamic guidance of Best Coach Prabesh Katuwal, Machhindra’s stars dazzled: Sanish Shrestha captured the Most Valuable Player title (51,000 NPR), Pradip Bhandari shone as Best Goalkeeper, and Yubaraj Dhakal impressed as Best Midfielder. Meanwhile, NRT’s Ashish Gurung stood out as Best Defender, and Machhindra’s Milan Chamling fired in goals to secure the Golden Boot. Since April 18 (Baisakh 5), the Red Horse Football Club’s thrilling eight-team knockout tournament has invigorated the local scene, firmly establishing the Ilam Gold Cup as a highlight on Nepal’s regional football calendar.

Clinical APF Brush Aside Church Boys to Secure Gold Cup Final Berth

BHADRAPUR — Armed Police Force (APF) Football Club delivered a clinical masterclass in offensive football on Friday. They dismantled Church Boys United with a 3-0 victory to punch their ticket to the Om Sai Pathivara Chandragadhi Women’s Gold Cup final. In this high-stakes semi-final, defined by tactical superiority, APF’s relentless pressure finally broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Rashmi Kumari Ghising capitalised on a deflected cross from Anita Basnet, slotting home after a frantic sequence in the box. The departmental giants doubled their advantage shortly after the interval. Captain Anita Basnet turned goalscorer in the 49th minute, finishing a precise delivery from Ghising. This effectively silenced the Church Boys’ defensive backline. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/2irAPHoJuRUAki2sqRrcGkuRdXrfhymT9ixoXziU.jpg) Ghising, currently the tournament’s most lethal predator, put the result beyond doubt in the 62nd minute with her second of the afternoon. It was her sixth goal of the campaign, cementing her status at the top of the Golden Boot race. Renuka Nagarkoti’s midfield dominance earned her Player of the Match honours and an 11,000 NPR prize. The broader significance of this victory lies in the looming "Departmental Derby" final against Tribhuvan Army FC. This showdown carries immense prestige. The winner will receive 1.1 million NPR—the highest ever offered in Nepali women’s domestic football—marking a watershed moment for the sport’s professional growth in South Asia.

Real Madrid’s Title Hopes Wither After Last-Gasp Betis Heartbreak

Real Madrid’s fading La Liga title hopes took a serious hit at the Estadio de la Cartuja. A big defensive mistake in the fourth minute of stoppage time let Real Betis grab a 1-1 draw. The draw leaves Alvaro Arbeloa’s team eight points behind leaders Barcelona with only five matches left—a gap that could grow to eleven points if Hansi Flick’s side beats Getafe on Saturday. Vinícius Júnior gave the visitors a 17th-minute lead by scoring from a rebound after Federico Valverde’s strong shot. Madrid did not take advantage of their chances. Kylian Mbappé had a goal ruled out for offside, and both Jude Bellingham and Mbappé missed clear chances to secure the win. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/OdaN7IIK7vkxJnVrUSUJjF5LtKQeX4h2qjoyYdRe.jpg) Andriy Lunin made several important saves to keep Betis from scoring for most of the match. But late in the game, Ferland Mendy lost the ball, and Hector Bellerin scored to tie it. Real Madrid had already been knocked out of the Champions League, and now this draw may mean a season with no trophies—their fifth of this century. They must hope for a Barcelona slip-up as they prepare for a crucial Clásico at Camp Nou.

Cricket

CAN Approves $500K for Women’s Cricket and Reveals NPR 473M Revenue from NPL Season 2

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Central Working Committee met on April 6, 2026. The committee approved a $500,000 USD (approximately NPR 66 million) investment in women's cricket, aligning with ICC gender-balance directives. It also decided to seek a lease extension for the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and to pursue a formal transfer of the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground from the National Sports Council. These actions aim to strengthen cricket infrastructure and improve financial transparency. The meeting recognised the commercial success of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), whose second edition generated revenue of NPR 473.6 million. After NPR 219.6 million in expenses, NPR 161.8 million was distributed to eight franchise teams. The board approved the tournament’s financial statements. CAN scheduled its next Annual General Meeting for May 10–11, 2026, in Biratnagar, and set a mid-June deadline for 20 district committees to complete pending elections to ensure effective governance.

Lumbini Pulls Off Super Over Heist: APF Giants Toppled in Birgunj Thriller

LUMBINI, NEPAL – Near the Maya Devi Temple, birthplace of the Buddha and a symbol of peace, Lumbini Province secured a hard-fought Super Over win against the powerful APF Club. The PM Cup match started as a low-scoring contest before turning into a tense thriller, ending in a tie-breaker with Lumbini just one run short. Santosh Yadav stood out, dismantling the APF lineup at key moments. **The Super Over Showdown** Both teams scored 124, heightening tension. Lumbini batted first in the tie-breaker, scoring 14 despite losing opener Akash Tripathi for zero. Yadav added 8 runs quickly. Defending 15 runs, Yadav then bowled. He dismissed captain Rohit Paudel for one and then limited Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora to a combined five runs. APF closed with 6 runs for 1 wicket. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/ZqfBIT3gBKyBYeZA4WOu25ByEoHx3JgwDScHn3ZE.jpg) **The Collapse and the Comeback** Despite several national players, APF struggled and were all out for 124 in under 40 overs. Abhishek Gautam, batting in the lower order, top-scored with 28. For Lumbini, Ajay Chauhan took 4 wickets for 14 runs. Lumbini’s chase looked easy with Captain Dev Khanal (45) and Akash Tripathi (32) at the crease. Then, they lost their last nine wickets for only 50 runs and struggled to finish. **Shifting the Table** This win moves Lumbini to fifth with five points. APF, usually strong, drops to sixth. Lumbini showed determination and resilience, overcoming tough challenges to win.

Lamichhane’s Seven-Wicket Blitz Crushes Karnali in PM Cup

JANAKPUR: On Wednesday, Sandeep Lamichhane took control of the match with a thrilling display, seizing seven wickets and powering Bagmati Province to a stunning 60-run victory over Karnali Province. Building on his initial impact, Lamichhane’s bowling electrified the PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament, restricting Karnali to 120 runs in 25.1 overs as they desperately chased 181. His outstanding 7 for 40 now stands as the tournament’s fourth-best performance, sparking cheers from the crowd. **The Collapse** However, after a spirited start to their chase, Karnali couldn’t handle Lamichhane’s bowling. Nischal Rawal was the only one to put up a fight, scoring 31, while Dinesh Adhikari added 22 and Bipin Shahi made 15. The rest of the middle order fell quickly to the spin attack. As the innings progressed, Lamichhane wasted no time, striking early and maintaining relentless pressure, dismantling most of Karnali’s batting order. Though Rijan Dhakal, Pratish GC, and Subas Khatri took one wicket each, Lamichhane's sensational spell stole the spotlight. Claiming seven wickets, he joins a legendary group of PM Cup performers. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/UXg4zswHX2br4bcFc84U0LusPls2TAQkmwJ7rg0R.jpg) **Bagmati’s Gritty Total** Earlier in the day, Bagmati had a tough start after being sent in to bat. They lost wickets regularly, but Bibek Magar held the innings together with an important 56. Ishan Pandey added 27, and Pawan Thapa scored 22, helping the team reach 180 before being bowled out in the 39th over. Despite Karnali’s captain, Diwan Pun, bowling well, his good work was undone by his team’s batting collapse. In contrast, Bagmati’s bowlers were sharp and took control of the match.

Volleyball, Esports and Off Field Updates

Rukum West and Help Nepal Secure Consecutive Straight-Set Victories in PM Cup

Volleyball

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