Prasun guides Birgunj to three-wicket victory; Nepalgunj end up winless

Kathmandu, April 3:

Region No 3 (Kathmandu) defeated Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) by eight wickets to enter the final of the Springwood One Day National Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.

Kathmandu registered their fourth win of the event to set dates with Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) — who advanced to the final with four wins. The two teams will play at Pulchowk Engineering College on Friday before meeting in final at the TU Stadium on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, Nepalgunj were bowled out for 109 runs in 46.1 overs and Kathmandu overcame the total losing two wickets in 29.2 overs.

Anupam Singh was the top-scorer for Nepalgunj with 21 off 80 balls, while Sandeep Shrestha remained unbeaten on 13. Navin Shahi (11) and Rupesh Sharma (10) also reached double figures.

The 26-run third wicket partnership between Anupam and Rupesh was the only highlight of the innings after openers Mahesh Chhetri (1) and Saddam Khan (7) got out early.

For Kathmandu, Paras Khadka took 3-14 off eight overs, while Raju Basnet and Sharad Veshawkar claimed two each. Abhay Rana, Pramod Basnet and Raj Shrestha pocketed one apiece.

In reply, Kathmandu lost make-shift opener Dipendra Chaudhary (4) at 9-1, but opener Paresh Lohani and Sharad Vesawkar guided the team towards victory with a 99-run stand for the second wicket.

Man of the match Lohani was out just two runs short of their victory after hitting 10 fours on his way to 87-ball 68. Veshawkar remained unbeaten on 16 off 72 balls. Ismail Ansari and Navin Shahi took one wicket each for Nepalgunj.

In the other match at Lab School, Region No 2 (Birgunj) defeated Region No 6 (Baitadi) by three wickets. Batting first, Baitadi were bowled out for 141 runs in 33 overs before Birgunj overcame the target losing seven wickets in 28.2 overs. The match was reduced to 40-over-a-side due to overnight rain.

Jagdish Budhayer top-scored with 42 off just 35 balls including three fours and four sixes, while Binod Bhandari hit three fours and two sixes in his 32-ball 35. Skipper Dhirendra Chand — who had a 47-run partnersip with Budair for the seventh wicket — remained unbeaten on 21 off 34 balls including a four and a six, whereas Shakti (15) and Kamal Raj Joshi (10) also scored in double figures.

Sanjam Regmi took 3-21 and was ably supported by Raj Mohammad (3-31) for Birgunj. Skipper Binod Das, Sameer Thapa and Kumar Prasun also got one wicket each.

In reply, Birgunj were reeling at 88-7, but Prasun and Regmi shared an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 56-run to finish off the match. Prasun remained unbeaten on 34 off 36 balls hitting three fours and three sixes, while Sanjam was not not out on seven.

Das scored 21 off 25 balls and Sanjay Lama contributed 19. For Baitadi, Rajendra Bam took 4-32 and Sher Singh Khatri claimed 3-32 off eight overs each.

In the last-day league match on Friday, Biratnagar will play against Birgunj at the TU Stadium.