By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 24, 2026 13:48 PM • 29 views
KATHMANDU – Nepal Police Club opened their Prime Minister Cup campaign with a dominant win, defeating APF Club by 185 runs at Mulpani Cricket Ground—the largest margin in tournament history.
After APF captain Rohit Paudel chose to bowl first, Police batters capitalised, scoring 355 for 9 in 50 overs. This surpassed the previous tournament record of 339 runs for a team total in a single innings, further exerting pressure on APF bowlers, who struggled throughout.
Momentum built early as Dinesh Kharel began with 60 off 52 balls. The strong start set the tone for the top order, paving the way for Shankar Rana (61) and Aarif Sheikh (50) to build a 76-run partnership. Later, Dilshad Ali scored a quick half-century at number eight, helping the team to their imposing total. Altogether, four batsmen passed 50, solidifying their advantage as APF struggled in response.
Chasing 356, APF struggled early. Their top order quickly fell, leaving them at 64 for 6. Captain Rohit Paudel was out for 11. The usual departmental rivalry became a one-sided contest. Lalit Rajbanshi claimed 3 wickets for 28 runs, while Karan KC and Rashid Khan used bounce effectively to halt any comeback.
Despite brief late resistance from Nandan Yadav (44 not out) and Kamal Airee (35), who added 41 runs together, APF were all out for 170 in the 44th over, confirming Police's historic win.
Player of the Match Dinesh Kharel capped off the display, summarising the dominant mood. With this emphatic win, the police are now seen as strong contenders for the title.
