Kathmandu, April 2:

Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) made it to the final of the Springwood Senior One Day National Cricket League with 55-run win over Region No 2 (Birgunj) here at the Laboratory School grounds today.

With four wins in as many matches, Bhairahawa are likely to meet Region No 3 (Kathmandu) in the fight for the championship. Kathmandu defeated Region No 1 (Biratnagar) by 147-run for their third consecutive victory. Win against either Baitadi on Thursday or Bhairahawa on Friday will ensure Kathmandu’s place in the final.

At Lab School grounds, Bhairahawa scored 198-8 in their allotted 42 overs and restricted Birgunj for 143 in 39 over. Bhairahawa skipper Shakti Gauchan scored unbeaten 72 off 89 balls that included eight fours and two sixes. Amrit Bhattarai Bhattarai made 29, Manoj Baishya 22 and Sagar Khadka 16 not out. Sagar was hit on the forehead off Binod Das bowling and was taken to hospital for treatment. He returned to add unbroken 68-run partnership with skipper Gauchan. Das took 3-38 while Sameer Thapa and Sanjam Regmi bagged two wickets apiece.

In reply, Anil Mandal scored 50 and Raj Mohammad 25 as Birgunj were eventually dismissed for 143 runs in 39 overs. Amrit Bhattarai took 3-38 while Faizal Khan, Rahul BK and Basanta Regmi took two wickets each for Bhairahawa.

At the TU stadium, Skipper Paresh Lohani led from the front to guide Kathmandu to a comprehensive 147-run win over Biratnagar. Batting first, Kathmandu were all out for 235 with one ball to spare in the 50-over match. Biratnagar could only muster 88 in 22.overs.

Lohani scored 79 from 108 balls with 11 fours . Raju Basnet made a fluent 41 and Gyanendra Malla made 31. Mahaboob Alam took 3-29 and Raj Kumar Pradhan 2-28 for Biratnagar.

Skipper Manoj Katuwal top scored with 18 runs for Biratnagar. Parash Khadka claimed three, Abhaya Rana two and Pramod Basnet one wicket for Kathmandu.

Das surpasses Basnet

KATHMANDU: Region No 2 (Birgunj) skipper Binod Das became the leading wicket-taker in the national league when he claimed three wickets against Bhairahawa in the Springwood Senior One Day National Cricket League here on Wednesday. Seamer Das surpassed right-arm spinner Raju Basnet of Kathmandu, who reached the 50-wicket mark after claiming career best 5-15 against Birgunj on Sunday, as the leading wicketkeeper in the national tournaments. Das now has 52 wickets to his credit from 24 matches. — HNS