Region 2 Birgunj defeated Region 3 Kathmandu by 80 runs at the Birendra Memorial National League Cricket Tournament 2002 being organised here by Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) under the sponsorship of Gorkha Brewery Pvt Ltd on Thursday.

In the rain-hit match, batting first Birgunj scored 210 runs for the loss off seven wickets in its allotted 50 overs. But the target to Region 3 Kathmandu was reduced to 191 runs to be scored in 40 overs as rain disrupted play for one and a half hour.

For Birgunj, opener Kalamuddin Ansari scored 13 off 22 balls before being dismissed by Maheshwor Shrestha. Ansari shared 34-run partnership with other opener Sanjay Womjon who scored 36 off 37 deliveries including four boundaries before being dismissed by Anand Gurung in the 13th over.

One down batsman Kimon Ojha who scored 24 off 43 including three fours was dismissed by Nepali international Bardan Chalise, who was the vice captain of Under-19 squad. Left-arm spinner Chalise also dismissed Vikas Dali who scored 20 off 38 deliveries.

Chalise also caught Mosharraf Izhar who scored 29 runs including three boundaries off the bowling of Raju Basnet. Sanjam Regmi and Prakash Sharma remained unbeaten on 29 and 24 runs respectively. Nepali internationals Binod Das and Jay Prakash Sarraf were the only two batsmen who failed to cross double figure.

For Kathmandu, Raju Basnet and Bardan Chalise took two wickets each, while Maheshwor Shrestha and Anand Gurung grabbed one wicket apiece. In reply, Kathmandu failed to overcome the target and were packed off for 110 runs in 34.5 overs. Monish Shrestha top scored for the team with 19 off 34 balls, while Bardan Chalise and Sandeep Shrestha scored 14 runs each. Subrat Pandey scored 12 runs, while Anand Gurung remained unbeaten on four. Other five batsmen failed to cross double figure.

For Birgunj, Shyam Thapa took three wickets conceding 21 runs in 4.5 overs, while Binod Das, Sanjam Regmi and Mosharraf Izhar grabbed two wickets apiece. Jay Prakash Sarraf took one wicket. Sanjam Regmi of the winning team was adjudged the man of the match.