Region No 1 Biratnagar secured fifth position after defeating Region No 6 (Baitadi) by five runs in the rain-marred fifth place playoff at the BSAM Ground on Friday.
Biratnagar were 129/3 in 32 overs chasing Baitadi’s 157 when rain prematurely ended the match. Biratnagar were five runs ahead under Duckworth Lewis System and declared the winner.
Biratnagar had a fine opening partnership. Sunny Pun got a fine half-century (52 off 92 balls) and was unbeaten while his partner Rajan Khadgi got 41 off 60 before becoming a victim of Bhuwan Karki. Iraj and Ravi Roy ran out themselves quickly before Somesh Yadav (unbeaten 14 off 19) got the team going until the rain.
Earlier, Baitadi’s openers partnered 70 runs to give the team an edge but once man of the match Amit Dahal started taking wickets, he made batting looked all difficult. His three wickets brought Baitadi down to 92/3 from 70/0 in space of eight overs.
Amit got both openers – Santosh Thapa (32 off 100 balls) and Raghu Sunar (39 off 55) and hardhitting Pradeep Airee (5). Naresh Budayar failed today scoring only five runs but Kuldeep Khadka got the team going with quickfire 34 off 39 balls with three fours and a six. He was out as seventh wicket and his team was on 141. The lower order put a few runs while pacer Iraj Shrestha took three wickets for Biratnagar.