A record fifth wicket partnership between Gyanendra Malla and Raj Shrestha helped Region No 3 Kathmandu reach a modest total that proved too difficult to achieve for Region No 2 Birgunj in the opening match of the fourth Birendra Memorial National League cricket tournament here today at the TU Cricket Ground.
Gyanendra scored 58 off 73 deliveries while Raj got 29 off 69 as the pair added 84 to break previous record of 66 by Jaya Prakash Sarraf and Bikash Dali. With their contribution, Kathmandu, who was at a stage 39/4, went on to score 149 in 41.1 overs. Birgunj’s start was more disastrous. It lost four wickets for mere 16 runs and all for 80 runs to lose by 69 runs.
Kathmandu seamer Abhaya Rana utilized the seaming pitch taking three wickets in his first spell and later added one more to claim man of the match award. Abhaya trapped Kaniska Chaugai leg before on the first ball of his second over and repeated the feat in his third over claiming Prakash Maharjan’s wicket. The other opening bowler Paras Khadka claimed wicket of Sanjay Lama before Abhaya got Bikash Dali.
Shovakant Pandey and captain Binod Das tried to minimize the damage with a 29 run partnership before medium pacer Anil Amatya and spinner Raju Basnet bowled for another batting collapse. Anil took three including that of Shovakant (14) while Raju took two including Binod (18). Binod was caught at boundary in an attempt to hit six.
Birgunj lost nine wickets in 64 runs but Sanjam Regmi dragged the score to 80 with 16 off 41 balls. For a fitting finish, Abhaya took his wicket.
Earlier, Kathmandu captain Paresh Lohani elected to bat first which soon seemed a bad one as it lost four wickets for 39 runs. Binod Das took two of them while Yasin Hawari and Rajiv Shrestha took one each.
It was then Gyanendra and Raj who frustrated bowlers with a patient play. Gyanendra finally gave a return catch to Sanjam while Raj got out off Suraj Timilsina. Suraj finished with two wickets while Binod did well with bowl for his three in 7.1 overs that cost him just 11 runs. Rajiv Shrestha too took three.
For Kathmandu, besides Gyanendra and Raj, Paras Khadka (14), Paresh (12) and Rikesh Lama (10) reached the double-digit score. On Thursday, Region No 6 Baitadi will make its national league debut against Birgunj.