BIRGUNJ: Happy Land Secondary School of Region-I (Biratnagar) advanced to the final of the Boost Inter-school National Cricket Tournament defeating Sunrise Boarding School of Region-VIII (Pokhara) by eight wickets here at the Siddheshwor Sports grounds today.
Electing to bat first, Sunrise made 82 runs in 19.2 overs. Happy Land overcame the total losing two wickets in 17.3 overs. Aakash Thapa top scored for the Pokhara-based school with 22, while Bipin Tiwary and Amar Adhikari contributed 14 runs each.
Rohit Singh claimed 4-13, while Samir Hussain and Kali Charan Yadav snared two wickets apiece for Happy Land. In reply, Rabindra Yadav scored an unbeaten 41 off 51 deliveries with four boundaries and man-of-the-match Rohit chipped in an unbeaten 17 to steer Happy Land safely home.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final match between Vidhyasadan Secondary School of Region-II (Birgunj) and Scientific Education Academy of Region-VII (Janakpurdham) ended in no-result following protests from Vidhyasadan School. Vidhyasadan School filed a protest against Scientific immediately after their 22-run loss accusing the Janakpur-based School for fielding over-aged players in their squad.
The tournament rules require the team field players below 16 years of age. Secretary of Regional Cricket Association Daud Ansari said they will come up with the concrete decision before the final on Thursday. The championship match is scheduled at the Narayani Stadium. Scientific had scored 117 in 19.4 overs and restricted Vidhyasadan for 95 in the penultimate over.
THT
