Kathmandu, April 2

Deepak Bohara and Aaish Bhattarai scored half centuries as Province-3 defeated Province-4 by 90 runs in the opening match of the U-16 National Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first, Province-3 posted 210-6 in their allotted 30 overs before Province-4 managed 120-6. Province-3 made a flying start with openers Bohara and Bhattarai putting up 104 runs before Abhishek Thapa separated the pair. Bohara scored 52 off 38 balls that included nine fours before being caught behind by Arjun Kumal.

Bhattarai then added another 58 runs for the third wicket with Prashant Kamat. Bhattarai top scored for the team with 82 off just 71 balls hitting 10 boundaries and he was later adjudged the man of the match. Kamat struck two fours in his 49-ball 32. Abhishek Upadhyaya (19) and Krish Karki (12) also chipped in valuable runs for Province-3.

Skipper Abhishek Thapa and Roshan Neupane took two wickets each for Province-4, while Aditya claimed one.

In reply, Arjun Kumal top scored for Province-4 with 38 off 53 balls hitting five boundaries.

Abhishek Thapa (17), Aditya Thapa (14), Madan Subedi (11 not out), Sharad Tiwari (10) and Roshan Neupane (10) got starts but they could not convert them into big knocks.

Tilak Bhandari took two wickets for Province-3, while Bibek Darai, Aaish Bhattarai and Deepak Bohara grabbed one wicket each.

A total of seven teams — one each from seven provinces — are taking part in the tournament which also serves as the selection for the ACC U-16 Eastern Region Tournament. The teams have been divided into two pools and top two each from both groups will make it to the semi-finals. The winners and runners-up will receive cricket kits worth Rs 150,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively.