After two match days and six games across three venues, Madhesh Province were the only team remaining to play a game in the Men’s PM Cup (March 9-29) between 10 teams. However, they kicked off their campaign on Tuesday with a win over their eastern neighbour, Koshi Province, at Sidhharthanagar Cricket Ground, Rupandehi.

Winning the toss in his first game, Madhesh’s captain Anil Kumar Sah, who also opens for the Nepali men’s senior team, decided to bat first.

Sah, who captained Janakpur Bolts in the first edition of the Nepal Premier League, had injured his hand before the final on December 21 last year. Yet, his team won the inaugural NPL defeating Sudurpaschim. Unable to see the captain in the NPL final, Madhesh’s fans had been waiting for Sah’s return.

And he made a grand return in the PM Cup around three months later. Opening the game against Koshi, Sah registered a half-century. Koshi’s left-arm spinner Dipesh Kandel, who played for Nepal in the U-19 World Cup last year, sent Sah back to the pavilion for 75 off 75 as the fourth wicket in 29.1 overs; Madhesh were then at 145.

The total then reached 284/6 in 50 overs with in-at-five Pawan Sarraf and in-at-six Dipesh Das partnering for 123 runs off 115 balls for the fifth-wicket. While Sarraf departed eight runs short of his century, Das stayed not out at 56 off 60.

With a massive total to chase, Koshi did not have a good start. Opening the bowling attack for Madhesh, Rupesh Singh struck Koshi’s opener Chiraj Sah leg before for a golden duck. Singh went on to bag a five-wicket haul claiming the last two wickets of Koshi in his ninth over. Koshi were bundled out for 119 runs in 33 overs. Rajesh Yadav also took three wickets in six overs.

It was the second consecutive loss for Koshi as they were defeated by 26 runs by Lumbini in the first game of the tournament.

First win for Gandaki

While Koshi could not get their first win, Gandaki did; they defeated Karnali at the Lamahi-based Deukhuri Cricket Ground in the other game on Tuesday.

Gandaki had lost by six wickets to Sudurpaschim on Day 2 while Karnali defeated Sudurpaschim by 79 runs on Day 1. Meanwhile, Gandaki defeated Karnali by four wickets (with 125 balls remaining) on Day 3.

Electing to field first, Gandaki restricted Karnali to 91 runs in 27.2 overs. In response, Gandaki, losing six wickets, chased the paltry target in 29.1 overs.

Deepak Dumre hit the first ball of the 30th over for a four to win the game for Gandaki. The boundary also helped Dumre reach his 50 in 78 deliveries.