KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 27

Sudurpashchim Province recorded their third victory to move to the top of the table, while Karnali registered their first win in the Wai Wai Under-19 National Cricket Tournament here today.

Sudurpashchim defeated Gandaki Province by 113 runs at the TU Stadium for their third consecutive victory and they moved to the top of the table with maximum six points. They are ahead on net run rate after being tied with Bagmati, who were not in action today.

Batting first, Sudurpashchim were bowled out for 213 runs with three balls remaining and they packed Gandaki for 100 runs in 32.5 overs. Sudurpashchim struggled to build partnerships despite eight batters scoring in double figures.

Aakash Chand top scored with 40 off 45 balls with the help of three fours and a six, while skipper Anurag Singh scored 71-ball 37 hitting four boundaries.

Naren Saud contributed 28, while Milan Bohara scored 24. Gajendra Bohara, Sunil Chand and Hemant Dhami made 19 runs each, while Deepak Bohara scored 11. Subash Bhandari was the pick of the Gandaki bowlers taking 3-30, while Sudip Aryal, Nirtesh Giri, Shisir Bhusal, Cibrin Shrestha, Arjun Kumal and Sachinraj Adhikari grabbed one wicket each.

In reply, only openers Govind BK (22) and Arjun Kumal (20) could reach the 20-run mark. Skipper Subash Bhandari (16) and Karan Pangeni (15) were the other batters who contributed in double figures.

Player-of-the-match Milan Bohara was the chief destroyer for Sudurpashchim taking 6-11 from 9.5 overs, while Aakash Chand grabbed 2-34 and Naren Chand bagged 1-11.

In another match, Karnali beat Madhesh by two wickets. Batting first, Madhesh were bowled out for 135 runs in 41.5 overs before Karnali reached 139-8 with 92 balls to spare. Shailendra Sah top scored for Madhesh with 31 off 48 balls that included five boundaries, while Mayan Yadav (18), Sarfraj Mansuri (17), Megh Raj Ram (16) and Dablu Malik (15) contributed in double figures.

Player-of-the-match Yunish Singh completed a five-wicket haul taking 5-35 for Karnali, while Mohan BK and Aawash Shah grabbed two wickets each.

In reply, Mohan BK scored an unbeaten 38 off 40 balls that included six boundaries, while opener Manish Thapa hit five fours and a six in his 34-ball 32. Anirudh Kawar (16), Suwash Ayer (14) and Aawash Shah (12) contributed in double figures.

Ranjit Kumar took 5-23 from 10 overs but his five-wicket haul went in vain. Abjit Mandal grabbed two wickets, while Rajesh Yadav bagged one for Madhesh.

After the day's matches, Sudurpashchim and Bagmati are tied on six points, while Province-I, Lumbini and Karnali have two each.

Madhesh and Gandaki are yet to open their accounts. Top two teams after the league round will advance to the final.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 28, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.