Sunsari, December 25

Nepal APF Club thrashed Far-western Region by 144 runs for their second straight victory in the men’s cricket tournament under the seventh National Games at the Baijnathpur grounds in Biratnagar today.

Batting first, APF amassed 200-4 in 20 overs riding on skipper Paras Khadka’s unbeaten century. APF then restricted Far-western Region to 56-6. The national team captain Khadka slammed nine boundaries and eight sixes in his 43-ball 105 that helped his team reach 200-run mark. Opener Subash Khakurel scored 64 off just 51 balls that included six fours.

Khadka and Khakurel shared a 151-run stand for the unbroken fifth wicket after Md Aasif Khan (two), Sandeep Sunar (four), Gyanendra Malla (eight) and Pradeep Airee (four) were out cheaply. Khadka scored the first fifty off 26 balls and then reached the triple figures in 41 balls, while Khakurel scored half century in 38 balls. Dinesh Aagri took 3-17 for Far-western.

In reply, only two Far-western batsmen could reach double figure mark against the APF attack. Dipak Malla scored 21 off 44 balls, while Sanju Damal hit three fours in his 19-ball 15. Basant Regmi took 3-10 from three overs, while Karan KC, Bhuwan Karki and Pradeep Airee claimed one wicket each for APF.

In another match, Western Region defeated Central Region by six runs. Batting first, Western scored 127-6 in 20 overs before Central managed 121-7. Skipper Dipesh Khatri top scored for Western Region with 53 off 47 balls that included three boundaries and two sixes. Khatri reached 50 off just 43 balls. Shankar Rana scored 47-ball 48 hitting four boundaries and Krishna Karki remained unbeaten on 10. Rashid Khan completed the five-wicket haul taking 5-15 from four overs, while Rupesh Shrivastav claimed one wicket for Central Region.

In reply, Central were seven runs short of the victory target despite Jitendra Karki’s quick fire 44 off 29 balls that included two each fours and sixes. Hasim Ansari (21), Bhupendra Thapa (18) and Rashid Khan (10) were the other batsmen who scored in double figures.  Lal Adhikari and Dipesh Khatri took two wickets each for Western Region, while Amrit Gurung, Krishna Karki and Shah Alam grabbed one apiece.

After the day’s results, APF are at the top of Group A with four points, while Tribhuvan Army Club are behind with two. In Group B, Nepal Police Club, Central and Western have two points each. Top two teams from both the pools will advance to the semi-finals.