Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 5:

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) defeated Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) by 42 runs in a friendly cricket match organised on the occasion of the 34th birthday of Crown Prince Paras here at Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

Batting first, CAN were bowled out for 137 runs in 23.5 overs riding on Kiran Rana’s 43 off 49 balls including six boundaries.

Bijaya Sharma scored 33 off 40 balls and Ajay Pandey remained unbeaten on 10 runs, while rest of the batsmen failed to reach the double figure mark.

For NSJF, man of the match Ritesh Rijal took five wickets conceding 18 runs in five overs. Rijal dismissed Pradip Karki, Shyam Khetan, Upendra Bhattarai, skipper Sriniwas Rana and Manoj Pandey. Rajendra Gyawali grabbed three wickets — Kiran Rana, Bijaya Sharma and Shashi Subedi — giving away 18 runs in 3.8 overs.

In reply, NSJF failed to ovrcome the target and could muster 95 runs in 25.2 overs. Skipper Devendra Subedi and Ujjwol Acharya started well sharing 38-run opening partnership. Subedi was the highest scorer with run-a-ball 29 including five hits to the ropes.

The NSJF needed 56 runs from the last 10 overs, but after Ujjwol Acharya fell for 16 off 49 balls in 21.2 overs, the tail order collapsed with last six wickets adding just 10 runs. Ritesh Rijal and Binod Pandey scored 14 runs each.

For CAN, Shashi Subedi took four wickets conceding 20 runs in 5.2 overs. NSJF’s Ritesh Rijal, Purushottam Kattel, Santosh Ojha and Tapas Thapa fell victim to Subedi.

Pradip Karki pocketed three wickets dismissing Binod Pandey, Upendra Shrestha and Chetan Pandey in six overs. And, Sriniwas Rana claimed two — including a prized wicket of NSJF skipper Subedi — giving away 19 runs in four overs.