KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 5

Lumbini Province defeated Sudurpashchim by 113 runs to win the title of the Wai Wai Under-19 National Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first, Lumbini were all out for 212 runs in 50 overs riding on half centuries from Dev Khanal and Bishal Bikram KC before Ajay Chauhan took five wickets in packing Sudurpashchim for a paltry 99 runs in 28.3 overs.

Lumbini lost opener Aakash Tripathi (naught) in the second ball of the innings before skipper Kamal and Prajjwol Thapa (24) added 79 for the second wicket.

Sudurpashchim struck twice in quick succession to reduce Lumbini to 80-3. Khanal and Bishal Bikram KC shared a 41-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Durgesh Gupta scored 33-ball 32 hitting three fours and a six to make sure the team cross 200-run mark. Khanal top scored with 70 off 95 balls hitting five fours and four sixes, while KC struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 69-ball 51.

Aakash Chand was the pick of the Sudurpashchim bowlers taking 3-47, while Hemant Dhami (2-37) and Sher Malla (2-17) grabbed two wickets each. Naren Saud and Rahul Bhandari claimed one wicket apiece.

In reply, Sudurpashchim were never in contention losing wickets at regular interval. Lokesh Bam top scored with 25, while skipper Khadak Bohora scored 21. Sher Malla (15) and Narayan Joshi (11) contributed in double figures. Lumbini's Ajay Chauhan completed the five-wicket haul taking 5-20, while Durgesh Gupta and Mohammed Husen grabbed three and two wickets respectively.

Chauhan was named the player of the match, while his Lumbini teammate Husen was adjudged the player of the tournament. Champions Lumbini received Rs 200,000, while Sudurpashchim got Rs 100,000. Member Secretary of the National Sports Council Tanka Lal Ghising and Managing Director of Chaudhary Group Nirvana Chaudhary handed over the prizes to the winners of the seven-team competition.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 6, 2021 of The Himalayan Times.