Kathmandu, April 29

Province 3 and Province 1 advanced to the semi-finals of the Manamohan Memorial Inter-Province U-16 National Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Province 1 saw off Karnali Province by four wickets and finished as Group B runners-up. After the day's result, all three teams in the group were tied on two points. Province 3, who were not in action today, topped the group, while Province 1 finished second on run rate.

In the day's first match, Karnali were bowled out for 94 runs in 20.2 overs after put into bat first before Province 1 raced to 95-6 in 26 overs.

Navneet Karna scored an unbeaten 23 off 41 balls hitting two boundaries and a six, while Luv Kamat added 21 off 36 balls with the help of two boundaries to guide Province 1 into the last four. Karnali's Prakash Jaisi and Dipak Thapa claimed two wickets each, while Yuvraj KC took one wicket.

Earlier, Prakash Jaisi scored a quick fire 18-ball 33 hitting five boundaries to help Karnali post the fighting total. Bhabin Kumar Saru Magar added 16 off 23 balls that included three boundaries. Dipesh Kandel pocketed three wickets, while player-of-the-match Luv Kamat and Navneet Karna claimed two wickets each for Province1. Bipin Mahato took one wicket..

In another match, Province 5 saw off Province 2 by three runs in Group A and kept their semi-finals hopes alive. Province 7 (four), Province 2 (two) and Province 5 (two) are at the top three positions respectively, while Province 4 are yet to open account in the four-team group.

Opting to bat first, Province 5 were bowled out for 153 runs in their allotted 30 overs before restricting Province 2 to 150-9.

Province 5 posted the fighting total riding on Sijan Makaju's 62-ball 61 hitting three each boundaries and sixes. Sonu Sharma claimed three wickets for Province 2, while Bibek Yadav, Nikhil Singh and Bikram Kushwaha took two wickets each.