Kathmandu, June 5:

Region No 3 (Kathmandu) topped Group B beating Region No 1 (Biratnagar) by 77 runs in the Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket League here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on Tuesday.

With the win Kathmandu collected six points while Biratnagar earned three points from two games. Region No 6 (Baitadi) were eliminated with two losses.

Put into bat first by Biratnagar captain Ratan Rauniyar, Kathmandu scored a challenging total of 183 in 48.1 overs, thanks to a late burst by No 7 batsman Rom Shrestha. His 56-ball 44 included three sixes and an many fours. Earlier, opener Dipen Shrestha played a patient innings of 42 runs off 94 deliveries. Gyanendra Malla struck four fours in his 24-run innings before being run out.

Diwas Thapa took four wickets conceding 35 runs off 10 overs and Santosh Baral returned with 4-36 in 9.1 overs for Biratnagar.

Chasing 184-run target, Biratnagar were dismissed for 106 runs in the 40.2 overs. Biratnagar lost four wickets with 36 runs on board. They lost wickets in regular intervals and never recovered. Puspa Thapa top-scored with 72-ball 26 while Rajan Khadgi and Eraj Shrestha contributed 14 runs each. Pawan Das (10) was the only other batsman to score in double figures.

Raj Shrestha was the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers with 3-12 off 10 overs. Man of the match Rom Shrestha and Abhaya Rana took two wickets apiece while skipper Paras Khadka and Sharad Vesawkar bagged one each.

Region No 2 (Birgunj) will play Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) at the same venue on Wednesday. The last league match will decide the semi-finalists from Group A. Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj have three points each, while Birgunj are yet to open their account.