LALITPUR: The Under-21 Team suffered yet another defeat against the Senior Team losing by 41 runs despite a hat-trick from Prithu Baskota in their sixth practice match here at the Pulchowk Engineering Grounds today.

The senior team were bundled out for 189 in 47.4 overs but the target was too huge for the U-21 team as they were all out for 148 in 44.1 overs. The match featured a hat-trick from Prithu in the 28th over and an unbeaten 58-run knock from Sharad Vesawkar.

Prithu struck in his third ball after wicket keeper Subhash Khakurel stumped Mahesh Chhetri. The former national team skipper Binod Das then edged Prithu to wicketkeeper Khakurel in the next ball before completing a hat-trick with a caught and bowled dismissal of Sagar Pun.

The seniors were reeling at 127-8 but the middle order batsman Sharad shared 51-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Sanjam Regmi (13) to give a defendable total. Sharad struck just three fours in his 94-ball knock. Opener Mehboob Alam hit five boundaries and a six in his 34-ball 41. Skipper Paras Khadka struck five fours on his way to score 41 runs. Anil Mandal and Chandra Saud also picked up two wickets each for the U-21 team.

Man of the match Basanta Regmi picked up four wickets for the senior team as the junior boys failed to capitalise on a 48-run stand between openers Subhash Khakurel and Anil Mandal. Anil hit five fours and two sixes in his 63-ball 47 and Subhash made 20 off 22 balls with three hits to the fence.

Basanta destroyed the middle order of the U-21 innings returning with figures of 4-17 from 10 overs. Amrit Bhattarai (16) and Rahul Kumar BK (14) picked up runs down the order delaying the senior team's victory push. Pradeep Ayree (11) and Naresh Budhayer (10) were the other batsmen to reach double figures.

Binod Das, Paras Khadka, Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi took a wicket each for the senior team. The senior team lead the 50-over series 3-0 while they have also gained a 2-1 lead in the Twenty20 series.