Lalit Rajbanshi made history in the Prime Minister Cup (PM Cup) by becoming the first bowler to take over 100 wickets in the tournament. He achieved this milestone with a six-wicket haul against Karnali on Tuesday in Lamahi, Dang.
Nepal Police Club (NPC) remained unbeaten with their eighth straight win, defending a low total of 148 runs, thanks to Rajbanshi’s outstanding performance. This was the third time he took six wickets in a match in this edition.
Despite a tough start, NPC managed 147 runs in 48 overs, as key batters like Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Aarif Sheikh, and Gulshan Jha failed to score big. Karnali’s Anuj Chanara took four wickets, while skipper Diwan Pun grabbed three.
During Karnali’s chase, opener Rabindra Shahi fought hard with 49 runs, while Arjun Gharti added 30 off 42 balls. However, Rajbanshi’s brilliance with the ball bowled them out for just 103 runs in 24 overs.
Rajbanshi claimed his 100th wicket by dismissing Dipendra Rawat and Diwan Pun in the 16th over. After the final wicket, NPC players celebrated the historic moment as Rajbanshi kissed the pitch and expressed gratitude.
More Records for Rajbanshi
This year’s PM Cup has been remarkable for Rajbanshi. Besides reaching 100 wickets, he set a new record for most wickets in a single edition.
Before the Karnali match, he had already equaled Surya Tamang’s 30-wicket record from 2024. His six wickets on Tuesday took his tally to 36 in eight games, with two more matches still to play.
Rajbanshi was also the first bowler to take 20 wickets in a single edition back in 2019. He now holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls (seven) and has five four-wicket hauls as well. Additionally, he boasts the best bowling average (9.83) among players who have bowled over 200 overs in the tournament’s history.
With an economy rate of 3.29, Rajbanshi is the second-most economical bowler among those who have bowled 300+ overs in the PM Cup.
Looking Ahead
After the match, Rajbanshi stated that NPC will analyze their upcoming opponent, Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), to prepare for the final.
TAC and NPC will face off in their last league game on March 27. “We are already in the final, and it looks like TAC will be our opponent. We aim to build momentum for the final,” Rajbanshi said.
Meanwhile, Madhesh secured a victory in the other match of the day, defeating Sudurpaschim in another low-scoring game. Madhesh were all out for 102 runs in 42.3 overs, with Sudurpaschim’s Hemant Dhami and Sher Malla taking four wickets each.
However, Madhesh’s Bishal Patel turned the game around with six wickets, supported by Pradip Paswan’s three wickets. Sudurpaschim collapsed for just 58 runs in 29 overs, with only Dhami reaching double figures.
With Rajbanshi’s record-breaking performance and NPC’s dominant form, the tournament is set for an exciting finish.
