KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 24

Province-I and Sudurpashchim Province recorded victories in the Wai Wai Under-19 National Cricket Tournament here today.

Province-I defeated Gandaki Province by 21 runs in a low-scoring encounter at the Mulpani grounds. Batting first, Province-I were bowled out for 183 runs in 49.2 overs before Gandaki were packed for 162 runs with nine balls to spare.

Opener Sonu Ansari and skipper Dipesh Kandel added 63 runs for the fourth wicket to revive Province-I innings.

Kandel and Faijal Rahaman then shared a 47 for the fifth wicket before their innings collapsed dramatically losing last six wickets for 21 runs. Ansari top scored with 64 off 94 balls with the help of six boundaries and a six, while Kandel struck two sixes in his 36 and Rahaman contributed 26 hitting three fours.

Suvan Gahatraj (12) was the only other batter to scored in double figures for Province-I.

Shisir Bhusal was the pick of the Gandaki bowlers taking 4-28 from 7.4 overs, while Nirtesh Giri grabbed 3-24.

Subash Bhandari bagged two wickets and Sudip Aryal took one.

In reply, Gandaki failed to reach the target despite a fighting 48 from Karan Pangei and a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Pangeni and Deepak Dumre.

Pangeni top scored with 48 off 86 balls that included four boundaries, while Dumre scored 39-ball 25 with the help of two fours.

Opener Kumal contributed 22, while skipper Subash Bhandari (18) and Shisir Bhusal (10) also scored in double figures.

Gandaki were nicely placed at 122-3 in 35 overs before they collapsed losing seven wickets for 40 runs. Player-of-thematch Dipesh Kandel (3-21) and Aswin Mahato (3-32) shared six wickets between them for Province-I, while Bipin Mahato and Sonu Ansari grabbed two wickets each.

At the TU Stadium, Sudurpashchim Province beat Karnali Province by five wickets.

Batting first, Karnali were bowled out for a paltry 127 runs in 32.3 overs before Sudurpashchim reached 128-5 with 142 balls to spare.

Chasing a low target, Sudurpashchim were reduced to 56-3 in 13 overs before Milan Singh and Dipak Bohara shared a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Sudurpashchim then lost two quick wickets to be 111-5, while Gajendra Bohara (four) and Sunil Chand (13) took the team home without further loss.

Milan Bohara top scored with 42 off 47 balls with the help of seven boundaries and a six, while Deepak Bohara (20) and Dipak Bohara (20) scored 20 each. Skipper Anurag Singh contributed 10.

Anuj Chanara took 3-42 for Karnali, while Sandip Shahi and Mohan BK grabbed one wicket each.

Earlier, Dinesh Adhikari scored an unbeaten 35 off 32 balls that included five fours and a six, while Suwash Ayer hit four boundaries and a six in his 35-ball 30.

Skipper Bipin Rawat (19), Aawash Shah (15) and Sandip Shahi (10) were the other batters who scored in double figures for Karnali.

Milan Bohara was the pick of the Sudurpashchim taking 3-21, while Naren Saud grabbed two. Hemant Dhami and Kailash Ayer bagged on wicket each.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 25, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.