Nepalgunj‚ Baitadi enter semi-finals

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Region-V (Nepalgunj) and Region-VI (Baitadi) advanced to the Women’s Under-19 National Twenty20 Cricket Tournament semi-finals today.

Nepalgunj beat Region-III (Kathmandu) by 51 runs to secure the semi-final berths as Group ‘B’ runners-up. Bhairahawa topped the group with three wins out of three after defeating Region-VIII (Pokhara) by 55 runs.

At the Tribhuvan Unitersity Stadium, Nepalgunj scored 101 before restricting Kathmandu for 50 runs in 15.2 overs. Player-of-the-match Samana Pun top scored for Nepalgunj with 29 and Ashmita Thapa made 19 not out. Shilu Rijal and Shraddha Aryal picked up three wickets each while Sumina Maharjan took one for Kathmandu.

In reply, only Sangita Gauchan (14) made a notable contribution to the Kathmandu total. Kamala BC and Samana claimed two wickets apiece while Mamata Chaudhary and Samjhana Sharma bagged one each for Nepalgunj.

At the same venue, Bhairahawa beat Pokhara by 55 runs. Bhairahawa scored 120-1 and dismissed Pokhara for 65 runs in 18.2 overs. Pratikshya Basyal top scored for Bhairahawa with unbeaten 49 off 52 balls while Indu Barma made 15-ball 25 not out. Nitu Bhandari, who scored 24, was the only Bhairahawa batswoman to fall, dismissed by Aarati Bidari.

Soniya Poudel, Pooja Pandey and player-of-the-match Indu claimed two wickets each to restrict Pokhara for 65 runs.

Trishna Devkota (12) was the only Pokhara batswoman to score in double figures.

At the Pulchowk Engineering College grounds, Baitadi defended the 105-9 by restricting Region-II (Birgunj) for 76-7 in 20 overs. The win meant Baitadi entered the last four as runners-up to Group ‘A’ topper Janakpur. Janakpur topped the pool after their six-wicket win over Region-I (Biratnagar) at the same venue today.

Opting to bat first, Baitadi were indebted to player-of-the-match Puja Bhatta, who made 40-ball 29, and Dropati Kunwar, who scored 33-ball 23, to post the defendable total on the board. Puja Giri was the pick of hte Birgunj bowlers with 3-30 while Subhadra Adhikari, Nirmala Pakuwal and Rojina Aryal grabbed two apiece.

In reply, Birgunj could only muster 76-7 with Manisha

contribuing the highest 24 runs to the total. Rachana Aryal made

19 and Preeti Thapa 14. Sonu Khadka, Anjali Chand and

Roshani Chand bagged two wicket each for Baitadi.

In another match at the same venue, Biratnagar were bowled

out for 69 runs in 18.1 overs after electing to bat first. Janakpur replied with 72-4 in 18 overs

ensuring they finish top of the pool with maximum six points from three matches.

Samjhana Budhathoki contributed 18 and Sabina Shrestha made 14 in hapless Biratnagar batting. Player-of-the-match Kabita Gautam claimed three and Santoshi Chaudhary took two wickets for Jankpur. Kritu Dahal and Mamata Chaudhary also bagged one wicket apiece.

Usha Bhujel and Saraswoti Chaudhary scored 18 runs each as Janakpur surpassed Biratnagar total with two overs to spare. Sabnam Rai took two while Sangita Rai and Sapana Shrestha grabbed one wicket each for Biratnagar.

Janakpur will take on Nepalgunj while Bhairahawa will face Baitadi in the semi-finals at the TU Stadium on Saturday.