Region No 1 Biratnagar defeated Region No 6 Baitadi by a run in a nail-biting finish in the Wai Wai Women’s Twenty20 National League at the TU Ground.
After the result, both teams are tied at third place with two wins from four matches while Kathmandu is at second place with three wins from four.
In another match, Region No 4 Bhairahawa defeated Region No 2 Birgunj by 53 runs and both are out of the contention with Birgunj losing all five and Bhairahawa winning only one off four.
On June 5, if Baitadi defeated Kathmandu and Biratnagar defeats Bhairahawa, the three teams will be on six points each and the finalist to play Region No 5 Nepalgunj will be decided by net run rate. However, host Kathmandu has an upper hand and a win, even a tie, will put them in the final.
Biratnagar scored 76/7 after Baitadi invited the eastern side to bat first. Rashmi Sharma topscored with 24 while Kabita Gautam got 10 not out. Baitadi gave away 23 extras.
For Baitadi, Ritu Kanojiya and Janaki Bhatta took two wickets each.
In reply, Baitadi had a good start with openers Rekha Rawal (8) and Anjali Chand (14) adding 27 in six overs but both returned in space of five balls.
Roshani Bohara (20 not out off 42) was batting well but she eventually ran out of partners as Rashmi and Ambika Budhathoki bowled splendidly. Each of them grabbed three wickets while Kabita got two.
In last two overs, Baitadi needed eight runs with two wickets in hand. Sonu Khadka was out on the third ball of the last over leaving her team in need of two runs off last three balls. Roshani took a run next ball exposing last woman Pooja Rawal, who was stumped first ball.
In other match, Bhairahawa got 112/5 and bowled out Birgunj for 59 in 11.4 overs to register a 53-run win.
Opening bowler Khina Thapa Magar took 5/12 who was supported by Aarati Bidari (3/8 in 10 balls) and Indu Barma (2/22) as Birgunj women struggled to score runs. Only Kriti Mandal (24 off 19) got double figure.
Earlier, Khina (20), Aarati (17 not out), Madhu Thapa (16) and Ekta Gurung (11) took Bhairahawa to a good total against Birgunj’s weak bowling that gave away 32 extras.