Region Number VI Baitadi registered a four wicket victory over Region Number II Birgunj to lift the title of the Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament here at Tribhuwan University Ground, today.
In a 50 overs match, Birgunj won the toss and batted to put up a low total of 100 runs in 37.2 overs.
Birgunj lost their opener Hasim Ansari quickly for 15 runs in fourth ball of the third over. Ansari faced 15 balls hitting two fours and a six.
Birgunj batsman did not perform to their best and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Suraj Kurmi and Aakib Ansari shared a 33 runs partnership for the fifth wicket though. Suraj made a 67-ball 30 with four fours before falling prey to Santosh Bhatta while Aakib scored 54-ball 18 with a four. None of the other batsman reached the double digit figure. Aakib and Naresh Raj Giri guided the team to 100 while the three batsman went out afterwards and they were bundled up.
Man of the match Prem Tamang remained as the pick of the bowlers with three wickets off 2 overs conceding only two runs. Santosh Bhatta, Yagya Man Kumal and Binod Lama shared two wickets apiece. Bikram Sob also picked up a wicket.
In reply, Baitadi chased the target in 31.4 overs losing six wickets.
Openers Surendra Chand and Prem Tamang gave Baitadi a perfect start as they shared 59 runs partnership for the first wicket. Chand who later was stumped in the ball of Aakib Ansari scored 38 runs off 44 balls with seen fours while Prem made a 57-ball 18. At 79-5 in 22.6 overs, the match was in a 50-50 mode where the result could favor in any of the side but later Saurab Chand remained not out at 22 runs to guide the team to victory from 43 balls hitting three fours.
Aakib and Hasim picked up three wickets each for Birgunj.
Hasim was adjudged as the best batsman and the player of the series while Binod Lama from Baitadi remained as the best bowler. Hasim faced 149 balls in his 176 runs off four matches while picked up six wickets. Binod picked up twelve wickets from three matches bowling 29 overs and conceding only 57 runs.
Winner Baitadi bagged the cash prize of Rs. 25,000 with trophy. While, Hasim was awarded with cash prize of Rs. 15,000 and Binod took away Rs. 5,000.
Prizes were given by Chief Guest Yubaraj Lama (Member Secretary of National Sports Council), Tarini Bikram Shah (Vice President of CAN), Keshav Ghimire (Vice President of CAN), Diwakar Ghale (Member of CAN), Basant Raj Satyal (Member of CAN), Kiran Rana (Member of CAN), Sunil Amatya (Member of CAN), Amit Bir Pandey (Member of CAN), Sanjeev Pandey (Member of CAN), Lal Babu Prasad (Representative of Chaudhary Group)
