Gandaki Province secures convincing win as Koshi Province falters in PM Cup showdown

KATHMANDU: A thrilling encounter unfolded in the Prime Minister Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament 2024 as Gandaki Province displayed a dominant performance, clinching victory against Koshi Province by an impressive margin of 142 runs.

Having won the toss, Koshi Province initially opted to bowl and successfully restricted Gandaki Province to a modest total of 167 runs, all out, in 48.2 overs at the Mulpani cricket ground.

The match took a dramatic turn during Koshi's innings, resulting in them being all out for an unprecedented low score of 25 runs in just 15.1 overs. This remarkable achievement marks the lowest score by any team in the tournament's history.

Notably, no batsman for Koshi Province managed to reach double figures, underlining the stellar bowling performance by the Gandaki team. Bipin Khatri emerged as the star bowler, claiming six wickets, complemented by Sandeep Parajuli, who contributed with three crucial wickets.

In the earlier innings, Muskan T Magar led the charge for Gandaki Province, showcasing an outstanding performance with the bat by scoring the highest total of 67 runs, featuring seven well-timed fours.

Captain Bipin Khatri added 42 runs to the team's total, while Kamal Pariyar contributed 13 runs.

On the bowling front for Koshi Province, Avyash Timalsina stood out with a commendable performance, securing six wickets. Firdosh Ansari, Kamal Khatri, and Sonu Mandal also made valuable contributions, each claiming a wicket.

Gandaki Province's emphatic victory underscores their strong start in the tournament, while Koshi Province's historic low score adds an unexpected twist to the competition.