Top order fifties lead Army to second straight win

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Mar 26, 2026

Tribhuwan Army Club registered their second consecutive win in the Men’s PM Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Gandaki Province at the Lower Mulpani on Thursday. Gandaki, meanwhile, slumped to their second straight defeat in the competition.

Chasing 210, Army completed the task in 34 overs, built around three half-centuries from their top order and an all-round contribution from Kushal Malla.

Earlier, Gandaki posted 209 in 49.2 overs after opting to bat first. Opener Arjun Kumal once again held the innings together, top-scoring with a patient 67 off 102 balls, striking a six and four boundaries. It marked his second successive fifty in the tournament.

Deepak Dumre provided support with 51, adding 62 runs for the fourth wicket with Kumal. Late contributions from Subash Bhandari (10) and Kishna Paudel (17) helped Gandaki push past the 200 mark.

For Army, Aakash Chand and Shahab Alam picked up three wickets each, returning 3/48 and 3/53 respectively, while Kushal Malla chipped in with 2/18 from his 10 overs.

In reply, Army’s chase was set up by a dominant opening stand between Trit Raj Das and Binod Bhandari, who added 110 runs. Tritmade 51, while Binod struck 58, with the partnership featuring three sixes and fifteen boundaries.

Army briefly stumbled, losing three wickets without adding to the score, but Bhim Sharki steadied the innings with an unbeaten 54 off 53 balls, registering his second consecutive fifty. He found support in Kushal Malla, who made 43, as the pair guided Army home with ease.

Subash Bhandari (2/26) and Bipin Khatri (1/38) were among the wickets for Gandaki, but the target proved insufficient against Army’s top order.