Region No 4 Bhairahawa made a winning start defeating Region No 2 Birgunj, who crumbled down to the score below 100 second time in three matches, by five wickets here at the TU Cricket Ground today.
Birgunj were bowled out for 84 runs in 33.3 overs – 4 more than their lowest total, against Kathmandu three days ago. Last year’s runner-up Bhairahawa completed the run chase in 26 overs, but not before losing five wickets.
In-form Birgunj captain Binod Das bowled splendidly well to take three wicket giving away just 16 runs in his 9 overs. He took his personal wicket tally to 8 in three matches, but that was not enough to stop Bhairahawa from winning the match.
Navin Gurung topscored for Bhairahawa with 23 from 44 balls with two fours before falling to off-spinner Sanjam Regmi while Basant Regmi and Shakti Gauchan, both bowled out by Binod, got 10 each. Captain Raju Khadka remained unbeaten on 10.
Earlier, Birgunj batsmen failed to cope with the early dew on the pitch after Raju invited them to bat first. It lost three top-order batsmen, Kaniska Chaugai, Pratap Maharjan and Sashi Keshari, when the scoreboard was reading 8 runs. Raju claimed two of the wickets while Amrit Bhattarai took one.
Bikash Dali tried to stabilize Birgunj innings staying for more than an hour and playing 52 balls for his 10 runs but Shakti Guachan, Deepesh Khatri and Basant Regmi all bowled brilliantly to restrict Birgunj’s to the tournament’s fifth lowest total.
Gauchan, adjudged man of the match, took three wickets while Deepesh and Basant each got two wickets. Birgunj could have bundled for even less if Sanjam hadn’t got some quick runs. His 22 off 34 balls including two boundaries was the top score on the Birgunj innings – equaled only by the extras.