Biratnagar: The Tribhuvan Army Club cemented their place atop Nepal’s domestic cricket scene with a ruthless display in the Koshi Pradesh Trophy National T20 final. Facing off against Karnali Pradesh at the historic Baijnathpur Ground, the Army dismantled their opponents with a clinical nine-wicket victory.

Chasing a modest target of 111 set by Karnali, the Army batters confidently marched to victory in just 12.2 overs, losing only a single wicket. Opener Tritharaj Das was the star of the show, crafting an unbeaten half-century (50 runs off 33 balls) adorned with five boundaries and two towering sixes. His partnership with Imran Sheikh (38 not out) was a turning point, as they steadily built the innings after the early loss of a wicket. Captain’s tactical decisions, including the crucial bowling changes and field placements, played a significant role in the Army’s dominance.

Karnali’s batting effort earlier in the day was a stark contrast. Electing to bat first, they were bundled out for a paltry 110 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Bipin Rawal’s knock of 27 runs served as a lone bright spot, with skipper Rabindra Shahi and Manish Thapa contributing 21 runs each. Dinesh Adhikari chipped in with a handy 12, but the Army’s bowling attack proved too potent.

It was a team effort from the Army, with several players contributing to the victory. Spearheaded by the all-round brilliance of Tritharaj Das, who scored a half-century and took two crucial wickets, the Army bowling unit displayed exceptional control. Sahab Alam, Sumit Shrestha, and Basir Ahmed each took crucial wickets, disrupting Karnali’s batting line-up. With his economical bowling, Pawan Karki added another wicket to his name, completely stifling Karnali’s batting momentum.

The emphatic victory saw the Army rightfully crowned champions of the Koshi T20. They were awarded the prestigious trophy and a well-deserved cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The valiant Karnali squad, though outplayed, received Rs 3 lakh and a commemorative medal for their runner-up finish.

This tightly contested Koshi T20 tournament, a brainchild of the Morang Cricket Association, witnessed electrifying action from Chaitra 22nd onwards. Teams representing three departmental outfits and all seven provinces of Nepal battled it out, keeping cricket fans on the edge of their seats throughout the competition.