Kathmandu, March 28:

Region No 1 (Biratnagar) and Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) posted big wins in the opening day matches of the Springwood Senior National One Day Cricket League here today. Biratnagar defeated Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) by seven wickets, while Bhairahawa thrashed Region No 6 (Baitadi) by 196 runs.

Batting first, Nepalgunj were bowled out for 66 runs in 22.2 overs, while Biratnagar overcame the target losing three wickets in 9.1 overs. At TU Stadium, Bhairahawa were all out for 244 runs with three balls remaining and packed Baitadi for a paltry 49 runs in 16 overs.

At Lab School, apart from Mahesh Chhetri, others failed to reach the double-figure mark. Seven of their batsmen returned to the pavilion without opening their accounts. Chhetri’s 36-ball 43 contained eight hits to the fence.

Leg spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan was the pick of the Biratnagar bowlers returning with the figures of 2.2-1-5-4 that also earned him the man of the match award. Ajay Rajbanshi took 3-7 off two overs, while Manjeet Shrestha claimed 2-15 and Mehboob Alam 1-23.

In Biratnagar’s reply, Alam made a solid start hitting 16 runs in the first over. He then made 15 in the second and four in the third before being dismissed. Alam’s 14-ball 35 contained eight fours. Yashwant Subedi (9) and Puspa Thapa (5), who finished off the match with a four, remained unbeaten. Sunil Bista also made nine runs.

At TU Stadium, Bhairahawa piled up runs riding on half centuries from Manoj Baishya and Antim Thapa. The national team wicketkeeper Baishya

hit two fours in his 112-ball 64, while Thapa made 86-ball 52 including four fours.

The second highest scorer in between these two was the sundries (61). Bijay Thapa hit three boundaries in his 20-ball 18, while Akash Gupta (11) hit the only six of the day.

Sher Singh Khatri took 3-43, while Dhirendra Chand and Chandra Saud claimed two wickets each for Baitadi. In reply, Baitadi lost wickets in quick successions as they were all out below 50. Uttam Bhatta (10) was the lone batsman to score in double figures, while four batsmen were duck outs.

For Bhairahawa, skipper Shakti Gauchan and Amrit Bhattarai took three wickets apiece, while Basanta Regmi claimed two wickets and Mohan Thapa and Vijay Thapa pocketed one each.