Lalitpur, April 4:

Region No 1 (Biratnagar) defeated Region No 2 (Birgunj) by two wickets in a low scoring match, while the match between finalists Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) and Region No 3 (Kathmandu) was abandoned due to rain in the last-day league matches of the Springwood One Day National Cricket League here today.

Batting first after winning the toss at TU Stadium, Birgunj were bowled out for a paltry 68 runs in 20.5 overs and Biratnagar overcame the target in 24.2 overs but not before losing eight wickets. Kumar Prasun (18) was the only batsman to score in double figures for Birgunj. Birgunj were in terrible situation at 25/8 in nine overs, but Prasun — who scored an unbeaten 34 to guide his team to victory against Baitadi on Thursday — shared a 36-runs partnership for the ninth wicket with Sameer Thapa (9) to earn some respects. Mehboob Alam took 5-19 off eight overs, while Manjeet Shrestha claimed 3-28 for Biratnagar.

Alam, who had taken career best 7-25 against Baitadi on Tuesday, stormed into the five-wicket club. Alam, who accumulated 54 wickets in 25 matches, became the third bowler to achieve the feat after Raju Basnet (53) and Binod Das (59).

In reply, Biratnagar came in trouble after they lost the first wicket with just six runs on the board and four more at the score of 43, but the tailenders hung on to snatch a victory. Sunny Pun scored 21 off 40 balls including two fours, while man of the match Mehboob Alam remained unbeaten on 21 off 30 balls hitting three boundaries. Puspa Thapa made 16.

Birgunj skipper Binod Das — who was on a hat-trick after dismissing Sunny Pun and Biratnagar skipper Manoj Katuwal in the 13th over — took 6-29 off 10 overs. Sanjam Regmi and Anil Mandal pocketed one wicket each.

At Pulchowk Engineering College, the rehearsal of the final between Bhairahawa and Kathmandu was marred by side-screen fiasco and the rain. Put into bat first, Kathmandu were 47/2 after 23 overs and the match was stopped for 92 minutes after Kathmandu players refused to continue for not having side-screen. Dipendra Chaudhary and Gyanendra Malla were at the crease when the incident occurred.

The match resumed after the organisers managed side-screen and the match was reduced to 45-over-a-side. The match was finally abandoned when Bhairawa were 35/3 in 14.4 overs chasing Kathmandu’s 143/7 due to rain. The final is on Sunday at the TU Stadium.