Biratnagar, December 23

Nepal APF Club and Central Region began the seventh National Games cricket tournament with wins here at the Baijnathpur grounds.

APF defeated Mid-western Region by 26 runs in the opening match. Batting first, APF scored 145-4 in 20 overs before Mid-western Region reached 119-6. Sandeep Sunar top scored for APF 51 off 45 balls that included five boundaries, while Pradeep Airee (29) and skipper Paras Khadka (26) remained unbeaten. Airee struck three fours and six in his 20-ball knock whereas Khadka’s 17-ball knock included two boundaries.

APF bounced back after opener Subash Khakurel (three) and Md Aasif Sheikh (four) were dismissed with just 21 runs on the board. Sunar added 49 runs for the third wicket with Prithu Baskota (15) before Airee and Khadka shared an unbroken 56-run partnership. Amar Routela grabbed two wickets and Siddhant Raj Shahi took one for Mid-western.

In reply, Mid-western made a disastrous start losing opener Tek Salami (naught) in the fourth ball of the innings before Subendu Pandey (seven) and Prajjwal Shahi (16) lost their wickets cheaply to be reduced to 36-3 inside 10 overs. Anupam Singh (21) and Pranit Thapa revived Mid-western innings with 56-run stand for the fourth wicket but they failed to cope with the asking run rate. APF skipper Paras Khadka took 3-12 off four overs, while Karan KC, Bhuwan Karki and Shakti Gauchan grabbed one each.

In another match, Central Region defeated Eastern Region by four runs. Batting first, Central scored 120-9 in 20 overs before Eastern reached 116-9. Jitendra Thakuri top scored for Central with 31 off 37 balls, while Aschal Chaudhary netted 27 off 36 balls. Rashid Khan scored a quick fire 21 off 11 balls. Pushpa Thapa, Sandeep Shungana and Firdosh Ansari took two wickets each for Eastern Region, while Mahboob Alam and Pradeep Paswan claimed one apiece.

In reply, four Eastern Region batsmen scored in double figures but failed to convert them into big innings as they fell five runs short of victory target. After Ankit Subedi and Sunny Pun were out with 16 runs on the board, Eastern Region lost wickets at regular interval. Minash Thapa top scored for Eastern with 17 runs, while Pushpa Thapa (13), Raj Thapa (12) and Bibek Thapa (13 not out) were the others who scored in double figures. Hasim Ansaro took 3-23 for Central, while Rupesh Shrivastav claimed two and Rashid Khan and Sushil Kandel grabbed one each.

A total of eight teams are taking part in the tournament.

Unfit ground

Morang, December 23

A day after National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista declared all the venues of international standard, the men’s cricket event began at the Baijnathpur grounds of Biratnagar on matting wicket and unfit outfield. The outfield is not suitable for play as the area outside 30-yard circle is either covered with sand or is wet.

However, the cricketers have not taken the issue seriously and have taken it as an opportunity to play game. National team skipper Paras Khadka, who is representing Nepal APF Club, said the ground will not be an issue for them. “As players we have to play under different conditions and we are here to play as the game is being organised after a long time. The outfield is definitely not well prepared because it was developed within short time frame,” said Khadka.

Minister for Youth and Sports Daljit Sripaili said there was no option and they were forced to organise the event in the available infrastructure. “I have been trying to get the best out of the worst as we do not have much options. So we are satisfied with the current infrastructure,” he said. “And the players have also understood our position,” said Minister Sripaili. “The budget is not the reason behind the poor condition of the ground as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has assured us of allocating required budget.”