KATHMANDU, Dec 24: Region No 4 Bhairahawa won the title of Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament on Friday after upsetting defending champions Region No 2 Birgunj. Bhairahawa won the final match by a huge margin of 121 runs at the TU Cricket Ground.
Bhairahawa, electing to bat first, put up a good batting performance and reached 263/8 in 48 overs. In reply, Birgunj failed to chase a huge target and were all out for just 142 runs in 37.5 overs.
Openers Sagar Pun (17 runs) and Fajlur Rahman Khan (24 runs) gave a 40-run opening stand for Bhairahawa and four batsmen in middle-order contributed for reaching the huge total. Nischal Chaudhary scored 48 runs while spinner Rahul Kumar BK turned into an all-rounder to score 44 runs. Krishna Sen added 20 runs and Krishna Karki played a blistering knock of unbeaten 50 runs off 33 balls.
Birgunj bowler Avinash Karn, who was in sublime form during the tournaments and completed a record 10-wicket against Baitadi, claimed four wickets even on Friday but could not stop Bhairahawa from setting a huge target. Rahul Kumar Shah took three wickets for Birgunj.
Birgunj failed to continue the chase after player of the final Bibek Chaudhary took six wickets. Chaudhary bowled 9.5 overs, kept a maiden and gave away 15 runs to claim the six wickets. Opener Mohammad Hasim made 58 runs off 69 balls but Birgunj could not build a match-winning partnership. Bibek Dali added 27 runs for Birgunj but could not stop Bhairahawa from pulling off a huge victory.
Meanwhile, left arm pacer Karn from Birgunj was adjudged man of the series and best bowler of the tournament. Karn took 25 wickets in the five matches of the tournament with the average of 7.68 and strike rate of 9.84. His economy was 4.68 in the tournament. This was the highest number of wickets taken by a bowler in a domestic tournament. Karn also scored 68 runs, including a half-century, in the tournaments.
Karn got altogether Rs 35,000 as the award. He received Rs 15,000 for the record 10-wicket haul and Rs 10,000 each entitled for man of the series and best bowler.
Subash Khakurel of Region No 3 Kathmandu won the award for best batsman as he scored 243 runs in four matches with the average of 60.75. Khakurel also received Rs 10,000 for his brilliant batting performance while player of the final Bibek Chaudhary bagged Rs 5,000.
Secretary of Youth & Sports Ministry Sushil Narsing J.B Rana, Cricket Association of Nepal President Binaya Raj Pandey, Senior Marketing Manager of Chaudhary Group Lal Babu Prasad and Marketing Manager of Chaudhary Group Surendra Khanal gave away the prizes and awards to the winners.
This is the third Wai Wai U-19 title win for the Region No 4 Bhairahawa. They bagged Rs 25,000 and the trophy while runners-up Birgunj received Rs 15,000.
News from Republica National Daily
