KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 3
Lumbini Province defeated Madhesh Province by 58 runs and advanced to the final of the Wai Wai National Cricket Tournament here today.
With their fifth win in six matches, Lumbini accumulated 10 points to finish as runners-up in the seven-team table behind Sudurpashchim, who topped the standing with maximum 12 points.
Bagmati came third with eight, two more than Province-I, who beat Karnali in the last match today. Three other teams - Gandaki, Karnaliand Madhesh - earned two points each.
At the TU Stadium, Lumbini posted 222-9 in their allotted 50 overs before packing Madhesh for 164 runs. Lumbini's innings revolved around Prajjwol Thapa, who top scored with 85 off 128 balls with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes.
Opener Aakash Tripathi (23), Vishal Bhusal (13), Nirmal Gurung (13) and Dev Khanal (11) contributed in double figures.
Player-of-the-match Thapa rescued Lumbini after he added 37 runs for the fifth wicket with Nirmal Gurung and he shared a 50-run partnership for the next wicket with Sarki.
They were nicely placed at 62-2 in 14 overs before they lost two wickets in the space of four balls and came under pressure.
No 10 batter Sarki hit two each fours and sixes in his unbeaten 26 off 14 balls to help the team post a fighting total.
Nikesh Gupta took 3-42 for Madhesh, while Nitesh Yadav and Abhisekh Tiwari grabbed two wicket each and Abhijit Mandal bagged one.
In reply, Madhesh batters failed to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular interval.
Opener Mayan Yadav was the top scorer with 38 off 45 balls that included two fours and a six, while Sarfraj Mansuri hit three fours in his 58-ball 31. Ali Ansari (22), Dablu Maik (18), Shailendra Sah (10) and Nikesh Gupta (10) scored in double figures.
Avishek Gautam (3-28) and skipper Bishal Bikram KC (3- 34) shared six wickets between them, while Nar Sarki, Durgesh Gupta, Nirmal Gurung and Tul Bahadur Thapa grabbed one wicket each for Lumbini.
In another match, Province-I defeated Karnali by seven wickets. Batting first, Karnali were bowled out for a paltry 152 runs in 43.2 overs before Province-I raced to 156-3 with 111 balls to spare at the Mulpani grounds.
Karnali were all out cheaply despite fighting 47 off 67 from Suwash Ayer, who hit nine boundaries.
Mohan BK scored an unbeaten 29 off 31 balls hitting three boundaries, while opener Manish Thapa struck three fours in his 23-ball 26.
Player-of-the-match Anish Ojha (3-28) and Dipesh Kandel (3-32) shared six wickets between them for Province-I, whereas Abhinaya Rajbanshi, Bipin Mahato, Aswin Mahato and Sandesh Bhattarai grabbed one wicket each.
In reply, Bhupal Dangal and skipper Dipesh Kandel shared a 57-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket to take the team home with ease. Dangal hit five boundaries in his unbeaten 42 off 61 balls, while Kandel hit three fours and a six in his 26-ball 29 not out.
Earlier, opener Sonu Ansari scored a quick fire 45 off 36 balls with the help of nine boundaries, while Estain Rijal (17) and Suvan Gahatraj (13) contributed in double figures.
Yunish Singh and Mohan BK grabbed one wicket each for Karnali.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 4, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
