Region No 3 (Kathmandu) set the date with defending champion Region No I (Biratnagar) with a thumping 10-wicket victory over minnows Region No V (Nepalgunj) in the last league match of the Birendra Memorial National League cricket tournament here today at the TU Cricket Ground.
Kathmandu bowled out Nepalgunj for mere 93 runs in 30.4 overs after electing to field and scored the required runs in 18.1 overs to record the biggest win by wicket in the tournament’s history.
At the end of the league round, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Kathmandu all have 12 points but Biratnagar and Kathmandu entered the final on the superior net run rate.
It will be second time that Biratnagar would play Kathmandu in the final. In 2002, Kathmandu lost by four runs.
Skipper Paresh Lohani was at his best scoring unbeaten 64 in 61 balls for Kathmandu’s victory. His one-hour long stay produced 11 boundaries and a six. Other opener Rikesh Lama got 26 off 48 deliveries.Earlier, young Paras Khadka had a brilliant sting with the ball.
Man of the match Paras claimed three wickets in his spell to break down Nepalgunj’s top order. Nepalgunj had good going until the 10th over scoring 27 without loss, but once Paras claimed two wickets in space of three balls, they crumbled.
Paras took another in the 15th over to reduce Nepalgunj to 38/3.Raju Basnet too claimed three wickets while Niraj Basnet took two as Nepalgunj batsmen, other than openers Shahid Riza (18) and Manoj Baishya (16), failed to touch the two-digit marks.
Points Table
Region P W L Pts NRR
Biratnagar 5 4 1 12 +1.76
Kathmandu 5 4 1 12 +1.18
Bhairahawa 5 4 1 12 +0.84
Birgunj 5 2 3 6 -0.31
Nepalgunj 5 1 4 3 -2.11
Baitadi 5 0 5 0 -1.80