By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 19, 2026 15:40 PM • 29 views
KATHMANDU – Nepal Police Club (NPC) stayed on top of domestic cricket by beating Tribhuvan Army Club by four wickets, defending their Jai Trophy title at Mulpani Cricket Ground.
For the second straight year, Police beat Army in the final of this prominent red-ball tournament. In a tight three-day match, NPC stayed composed under pressure to secure the win.
The Final Stand: Rashid and Kushal Lead the Charge
Police needed 227 runs in their last innings and balanced aggression with steadiness. Rashid Khan led with a crucial 81 from 128 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three sixes—the highest score in the final.
Khan found a reliable partner in the explosive Kushal Bhurtel, whose quick 51 set the tone. After Army’s Shahab Alam and Pawan Karki claimed two wickets each in a brief turnaround, Dilshad Ali (31*) and Shankar Rana (13*) calmly guided Police home in a decisive partnership. Both teams posted identical scores of 221 in their first innings; earlier, Karan KC’s unbeaten 72 had kept Police in the contest.
Army resumed the final day at 178 for 9, eventually pushing to 226 with late efforts from Akash Chand (37) and Kushal Malla (36). This late resistance set a testing target, but Police’s bowlers—led by Sagar Dhakal’s four crucial wickets—kept things within reach, setting the stage for the run chase.
Tournament Honors
Rashid Khan won Player of the Match for his final-day performance, while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Player of the Series and Best Bowler, excelled by taking wickets throughout the event. Bagmati Province will use a two-day league format and a three-day final to test Nepal’s best cricketers’ endurance.
