Nepal Police Club (NPC) put up a commanding performance on Day I of the Jay Trophy Men’s Elite Cup two-day cricket tournament, leaving Bagmati Province trailing by 95 runs at stumps.

Sent in to bat first, Bagmati Province were bundled out for a meager 112 runs in 33.2 overs despite 71 runs by opener Ishan Pandey. However, the batting lineup failed to build any significant partnerships, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Pandey hit 10 fences in his 94-ball knock before he was dismissed for obstructing the field. Pratik Shrestha (12 runs) was the only other batter for Bagmati to put on double digit score.

NPC’s bowlers maintained tight lines, ensuring that Bagmati’s batters never felt comfortable at the crease. Lalit Rajbanshi and Sarwan Yadav were the pick of the bowlers for the departmental team returning with figures of 9-2-27-4 and 4-1-9-3 respectively.

In reply, NPC showed composure posting a respectable 215 in 45.5 overs and securing a vital 103-run lead. Though openers Dilip Nath (7 runs) and Kushal Bhurtel (8 runs) departed cheaply, Amit Shrestha and Arjun Saud scored a half century each and put up a 148 run stand for the fourth wicket. 

Saud scored 77 runs off 82 before he was trapped leg before by Bagmati captain Sandeep Lamichhane in the 36th over. He hit eight boundaries and two sixes. Shrestha cracked 97-ball 79 that included 10 hits to fences and two sixes before Pratish GC bowled him out in the following over. Gulshan Jha contributed 17 runs. 

Bagmati captain Lamichhane returned with figures of 11.5-3-65-4 while Pratish GC and Nandan Yadav shared two scalps each.  

Facing a sizable deficit, Bagmati Province began their second innings cautiously. By the end of the day’s play, they had reached 8/0 in 4 overs, with openers Ishan Pandey (3 runs off 12 balls) and Rit Gautam (5 runs off 12 balls) on crease. The pair will be under immense pressure to build a strong partnership on Day 2 to reduce the deficit and keep their team in the match.

Police had played a draw in their opening match against Army and defeated Madhesh Province by an innings and 35 runs.