By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 24, 2026 13:40 PM • 32 views
KATHMANDU: Bagmati Province dominated the PM Cup, defeating Gandaki Province by 170 runs to earn their first tournament points. Gandaki struggled throughout.
Bagmati Sets the Tone Early
Bagmati set the tone early by choosing to bat. Openers Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Shuva Kansakar built a 64-run partnership, preventing Gandaki’s bowlers from settling. Kansakar made 44, just missing a half-century, while Ghiraiya anchored the innings with 59.
Momentum continued when Ishan Pandey batted, smashing 71 off 61 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. His efforts lifted Bagmati to a strong 294 for 8.
Gandaki’s Batting Falls Apart
When Gandaki began their run chase, the troubles were evident from the start. Only opener Arjun Kumal put up a fight, scoring a determined 74 from 90 balls. The rest of the team couldn’t handle Bagmati’s mix of pace and spin, with six players getting out for zero. Kumal’s 11 boundaries were the only bright spot in a tough innings.
This lack of support led to Gandaki’s middle order collapse, as the team was all out for 124.
Bagmati’s Bowlers Take Control
This dominance with the ball was highlighted by Rijan Dhakal, who led the way by taking 3 wickets for 31 runs, using sharp bounce to trouble Gandaki’s batsmen. Sandeep Lamichhane and Ishan Pandey also took two wickets each, making sure Gandaki’s lower order could not recover.
Ultimately, with this comprehensive win, Bagmati not only opened their account with two points but also gained new hope for the rest of the tournament.
