Region No 3 Kathmandu topped the Group A table of the Wai Wai Under-19 Cricket Tournament beating Region No 4 Bhairahawa by eight wickets today at the TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
Bantu Bataju made an early impact in the Bhairahawa innings while spinner Raj Shrestha did the same during the end to restrict Bhairahawa to 90 runs in 34.1 overs. Both took three wickets each.
In reply, Kathmandu wicketkeeper and opener Dipen Shrestha hogged the limelight scoring unbeaten 38 while his Under-15 national captain Gyanenedra Malla scored 22 not out.
Bhairahawa batting struggled as only Akash Gupta, Nirmal Simangaida and Bijay Thapa reached double-figures. Akash made 18 while the other two got 15 each. Had Kathmandu not given away 24 extras, Bhairahawa’s total would’ve been more miserable.
Man of the match Bantu dismissed the top three batsmen while Raj took three among the last four. Captain Paras Khadka took two wickets while Prakash Thapa and Sarad Vesawkar also took a wicket each.
Kathmandu started better with Dipen and Sujin Adhikari (10) adding 24 in eight overs before Sujin failed to judge Lal Bahadur Adhikari’s delivery. Sarad had a quick innings scoring 16 off 20 balls with two fours and a six. Gyanendra ensured Kathamandu’s win with unbeaten 46-run partnership with Dipen.