Kathmandu, June 1

Western Region thrashed Mid-western Region by nine wickets and entered the semi-finals of the first Prime Minister Cup One-day National Men’s Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first,  Mid-western Region were bowled for a paltry 62 runs in 23 overs before Western raced to 66-1 in 11.1 overs. Western gathered four points from three matches, while Nepal APF Club have two from one. Central and Mid-western have one point each in Group A.

Bipin Khatri and Lal Adhikari  shared eight wickets between them and the duo did not allow Mid-western batsmen settle at the crease.  Skipper Shubhendu Pandey, Rajbir Singh and Amar Singh Routela scored 13 runs each, while Prajwal Shahi and Aakash Bista scored nine apiece. Six batsmen failed to open their accounts.

Khatri returned with the figures of 4-9 from seven overs and also earned the man-of-the-match award, while Adhikari claimed 4-24 from five overs. Krishna Karki took 2-21 from seven overs.

In reply, Western Region finished the match before the scheduled lunch time. Opener Anil Gurung top scored with an unbeaten 23 off 39 balls that included four boundaries, while Saurav Khanal struck two each fours and sixes in his eight-ball 20 before handing a return catch to Routela. Nurdhoj Sen remained unbeaten on 19 off 20 with the help of three boundaries. After the fall of Khanal, Gurung and Sen added 39 runs for the unbroken second wicket.

Western Regional skipper Antim Thapa lauded his bowlers’ performances. “We bowled and fielded well really in the match and that paved the way for easy win,” he said.

Thapa said his side was prepared to face any team in the semi-finals. “We do not have a star in the squad but our side is balanced. We are confident of doing well in the semi-finals and most probably it will be against the Tribhuvan Army Club,” he added. TAC and Nepal Police Club have made it to the semi-finals from Group B as winners and runners-up respectively.

On Friday, Nepal APF Club will take on Mid-western Region