By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Mar 25, 2026 15:46 PM • 31 views
JANAKPUR – Araniko Yadav starred as Madhesh Province claimed a crucial five-wicket win over Sudurpaschim Province in the Prime Minister Cup. Playing at home in Janakpur, Madhesh bounced back from their draw with Koshi to secure their first full tournament points.
Sudurpaschim struggled after Madhesh chose to bowl first at the Narayani Cricket Ground. Yadav broke through early with disciplined bowling, dismissing the first wicket in his opening spell. Pradeep Paswan complemented him by tightening the run rate, leading to a steady collapse of the top order. Opener Abhishek Pal contributed a determined 33-ball innings, but Sudurpaschim lacked stability and fell for 160 in the 44th over. Yadav led with three wickets.
Madhesh chased the target efficiently, reaching it in 33.4 overs. Despite Ashok Dhami’s three wickets for Sudurpaschim, Captain Anil Sah set the tone with a brisk start, followed by Mohammad Adil Alam’s steady contribution. Yadav anchored the finish under pressure, compiling an unbeaten 46 with nine boundaries.
This result shakes up the Group A standings, handing Sudurpaschim their first defeat after their opening win over Karnali Province. Madhesh now has three points from two matches and is positioned to challenge departmental teams—Army, Police, and APF—for the title. With a lucrative 1 million NPR prize for the champions tilting the stakes across Kathmandu and Madhesh Province, the pressure is on. The league format allows only the top two teams to reach the final, so Madhesh has reclaimed its momentum at the right moment. The race for the final is on.
