Basir Ahamad Shines as Army and APF Play Out Thrilling Draw in Jay Trophy

The high-stakes clash between Tribhuwan Army Club (TAC) and Nepal APF Club in the Jay Trophy Men's Elite Cup 2026 ended in a hard-fought draw at Mulpani. Despite a daunting target and a late-innings surge, neither side could secure a decisive victory in a match defined by standout individual centuries and disciplined bowling.

Army Sets the Tone with Das' Century

Opting to bat first, Tribhuwan Army Club posted 252/9d in their first innings. The effort was spearheaded by opener Trit Raj Das, who played a masterful knock of 102 off 159 balls, including 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. He found a solid partner in Imran Sheikh, who contributed a steady 71.

6th Match·Jay Trophy

OtherMD

ArmyTAC

252/9&268/8(56.3)

APFAPF

140&228/7(47)

TAC won by 112 runs

APF's Yuvraj Khatri was the standout performer with the ball, tearing through the middle order to claim 5 for 55. In response, APF struggled to find momentum, being bundled out for just 140. Skipper Rohit Paudel top-scored with 48, while Sompal Kami led the Army attack with clinical figures of 4 for 44.

Basir Ahamad's Masterclass Puts APF on the Backfoot

With a 112-run lead, Army Club looked to press their advantage in the second innings. Basir Ahamad delivered a Player of the Match performance, smashing an unbeaten 101 off 119 balls*. His century, supported by a brisk 63 from captain Binod Bhandari, allowed Army to declare at 268/8d, setting APF a massive target of 381 runs.

APF Resists in Tense Final Session

Facing a steep chase, APF showed significantly more resolve in their second outing. Lokesh Bam led the charge with a gritty 64, while Deepak Bohara (32), Rohit Paudel (35), and Aasif Sheikh (31) all made vital contributions to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Army's Naren Saud threatened to snatch a win, taking 5 for 79 to leave APF reeling at 228/7. However, APF managed to hold firm through the final overs, ensuring the points were shared as the match concluded in a draw.