Kathmandu, November 7:

Region No 6 (Baitadi) defeated Region No 1 (Biratnagar) by 16 runs to register their second consecutive win at the Under-17 National Cricket Tournament here today. In the other match, Region No 2 (Birgunj) beat Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) by one wicket.

At the Engineering College grounds in Pulchowk, Baitadi were all out for 156 runs in 38.5 overs and packed Biratnagar for 140 runs in 36.4 overs. While the win was Baitadi’s second straight in the tournament, Biratnagar lost their second match in as many days.

Man of the match Mahendra Negi top-scored for Baitadi with 44 off 84 balls including four boundaries, while Prashant Bista hit four fours in his unbeaten run-a-ball 26.

Niranjan Rawal (19), Bhuwan Karki (16) and Pradeep Ayree (11) also contributed in double figures. Baitadi lost the last

four wickets for just six runs with Sunil Tamang, Binod Lama and Bikram Sob falling for golden ducks.

For Biratnagar, Rajeev Chaudhary took 4-21 off eight overs and was ably supported by Kundan Singh (3-34) and Nirjal Chhetri (2-22). Anup karki took one wicket.

In reply, Biratnagar got a good start with openers Somesh Yadav and Aditya Shrestha adding 63 runs before Yadav fell to Bhuwan Karki in the 22nd over.

Yadav was the top-scorer for Biratnagar with 26 off 68 balls. Shrestha followed soon after scoring 23 runs. Biratnagar were cruising towards victory and needed 58 runs from 13 overs with six wickets on hand but Bashu Giri triggered the collapse that saw Biratnagar loss the last seven wickets for 41 runs. Only Anup Karki (13) and Kundan Singh (10) could manage to score in double figures.

Bashu Giri was the peak of the Baitadi bowlers with 3-22, while Surendra Bahadur Chand took 3-35. Pradeep Ayree and Bhuwan Karki pocketed two wickets each.

In the other match at the TU Stadium, Birgunj defeated Nepalgunj by one wicket. Put into bat first, Nepalgunj were dismissed for 1623 runs in 35.3 overs and Birgunj overcame the target losing nine wickets with just two balls to spare.

Skipper Subendu Pandey top-scored with 46 off 57 balls hitting four boundaries fir Nepalgunj, while Sitanshu Pandey scored 22 off just 17 balls that included four hits to the ropes. Opener Bhupendra Thapa (18), Saddam Hussain (16) and Sharad Marasini (10) scored in double figures.

For Birgunj, Sameer Nepal took 3-36, while Shahnawaz Ali, Iqbal Ansari and Bibek Dali claimed two wickets apiece.

In reply, Hari Shankar Shah scored a half century as Birgunj reached 166-9 in 39.4 overs. Man of the match, Shah hit five fours in his 94-ball 57 before being run out.

Amit Shrestha (14), Subash Tandukar (10), Sameer Nepal (15), Bibek Dali (16), Avinash Karn (18) and Shahnawaz Ali (not out 11) all made significant contributions.

Subendu pandey took 3-22, while Sahil Rana and Pratik Singh claimed two wickets each for Nepalgunj. Sunil Sunar also pocketed one wicket.