KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 3

Sudurpashchim Province defeated Bagmati by eight wickets to advance to the final of the Wai Wai Under-19 National Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first, Bagmati were bowled out for a paltry 95 runs 30.1 overs before Sudurpashchim raced to 96-2 with 161 balls to spare. With their fourth win, Sudurpashchim finished second with eight points, while Bagmati ended on four points.

Sudurpashchim will face table toppers Lumbini Province in Sunday's final. Sudurpashchim's decision to invite Bagmati to take the strike paid off as the bowlers took wickets at regular interval to dismiss the opponents cheaply. Only two batters were able to score in double figures for Bagmati. Bibek Magar top scored with an unbeaten 32 off 75 balls hitting four boundaries, while Krish Karki struck two fours and a six in his 30-ball 17.

Hemant Dhami was the pick of the Sudurpashchim bowlers and he completed five-wicket haul taking 5-19 from 10 overs, while Sher Malla grabbed 4-31 from 5.1 overs. Dhami was later named the player of the match.

In reply, Naren Bhatta and Rahul Bhandari guided Sudurpashchim to victory with 59-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket after they lost two quick wickets.

Bhatta struck six fours in his 68-ball 37, while Bhandari scored 31 with the help of five boundaries. Basant Karki contributed 11 and skipper Khadak Bohora was out for five. Pratis GC and Gautam KC took one wicket each for Bagmati. A version of this article appears in the print on December 4, 2021 of The Himalayan Times.