Kathmandu, May 23 :

Paresh Lohani scored an unbeaten 80 runs as Region No 3 (Kathmandu) registered an emphatic eight-wicket win over Region No 6 (Baitadi) in the fifth National Cricket Tournament here at Tribhuvan University Stadium on Tuesday.

In the other match held in Bhaktapur, four-time champions Region No 1 (Biratnagar) kept their hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Region No 5 (Nepalgunj).

Put into bat, Baitadi were bowled out for 122 runs in 45.3 overs. Baitadi had a poor start loosing opener Binod Bhandari for naught and soon Rahul Chand (5) was also dismissed with 14 runs on the board.

No 5 batsman Naresh Budhair tired to hold the innings but wickets kept on tumbling and Baitadi were bowled out cheaply. Budhair was left unbeaten on 28 off 83 balls. Rajendra Bahadur Chand contributed 21 while Dhan Bahadur Chhetri made 16.

Skipper Raju Basnyat (3-21) and Kalam Ali (3-15) were the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers.

Kathmadnu did not have a good start in their run chase as they lost two wickets with just 20 runs on the board. But man of the match Lohani stole the show with an unbeaten 80 off 103 balls including 14 fours. Gyanendra Malla was unbeaten on 20. Chandra Sauwad took both the wickets for Baitadi.

In Bhakatpur, Nepalgunj were bowled out for 112 runs. Nepalgunj were 39/6 in the 13.1 overs but Durga Sen (61) played the captain’s knock and gave them a respectable total. Meraj Waris (25) ably supported him at the other end.

Prashant Halwai claimed three while Manjeet Shrestha, Raj Kumar Pradhan and Unil Shrestha took two wickets each for Biratnagar. Biratnagar chased the target in 23.4 overs losing four wickets. Puspa Thapa and Yaswant Subedi scored 18 runs each. Unil Shrestha was unbeaten on 22. Navin Shahi and Meraj Waris claimed two wickets each for Baitadi.