KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 2
Gandaki defeated Province-I by one wicket to send the race to final of the Wai Wai Under-19 National Cricket Tournament wide open here today.
Batting first, Province-I were bowled out for 133 runs in 44.4 overs before Gandaki crippled to 136-9 with 72 balls remaining. The win means four teams - Gandaki, Sudurpashchim, Province-I and Bagmati - are in contention for the one remaining slot in the final. Gandaki are level on six points with Sudurpashchim and Province-I, while Bagmati Province are fourth on four points. The match between Bagmati and Sudurpashchim on Friday will decide the second finalists. Lumbini Province, who accumulated 10 points from six matches, have already advanced to the final. Karnali and Province-II signed off with two wins each with the former finishing sixth on better net run rate.
Chasing the 134-run target, Gandaki reached 97-2 in 25 overs before they lost seven wickets in the space of 19 runs to be 119-9. The last pair of Kiran Poudel and Sudip Aryal survived almost six overs to eke out the required 19 runs to take the team home safely. Poudel remained unbeaten on 12 off 24 balls hitting two fours, while Aryal scored two from 19 balls.
Arjun Kumal top scored with 35 off 70 hitting six fours, while Deepak Dumre struck seven boundaries in his 59-ball 33. Milan Chhetri scored 24 off 36 balls with the help of three fours. Dipesh Kandel was the pick of the Province-I bowlers taking 4-10, while Luv Kamat grabbed 3-26.
Earlier, player-of-the-match Dipesh Kandel top scored for Province-I with 46 off 113 balls hitting four boundaries and a six, while Dipak Joshi struck five fours and a six in his five-ball 16. Bibek Anand Mehta scored 14 off 23 balls hitting three fours. Sonu Ansari scored 13 off 18 balls, while Sonu Mandal contributed 11. Kamal Pariyar took 3-38 for Gandaki, while Sudip Aryal grabbed 2-8. Kiran Poudel, Subash Bhandari and Bishnu Pandey claimed one wicket each.
At Mulpani, Karnali defeated Province-II by two wickets in a meaningless encounter. Batting first, Province-II were bowled out for a paltry 45 runs in 13.4 overs, while Karnali reached 46-8 in 13.3 overs. Only two batters, Sunny Sah (12) and Santosh Karki (11) could score in double figures for Province-II.
Prakash Jaishi returned with 8-16 from 6.4 overs, while Anuj Chanara grabbed 2-29 for Karnali.
In reply, Karnali struggled to chase a low total and lost eight wickets on the way to making 46. Jaishi returned to top score with 10-ball 16 hitting three fours, while others failed to reach double digit. Raj Shah was next best contributor with an unbeaten six. Rajesh Yadav took 6-12 from 6.3 overs for Province-II, while Bibek Yadav grabbed 2-33.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 3, 2021 of The Himalayan Times.
