Indu Berma put yet another all-round performance as Bhairahawa crushed Nepalgunj by 46 runs at the IOE Ground and confirmed a place in the semifinal of the Women’s U-19 National Cricket Tournament.
Janakpur also qualified for the semifinal beating Birgunj by 45 runs at the TU Ground.
At IOE, Bhairahawa scored 125 for 9 wickets batting first. Prarikchhya Bashyal topscored with 29 in 42 balls while Indu got quickfire 28 off just 20 balls in a knock that included 5 fours. Ekta Gurung contributed with 14 off 16.
Mamata Chaudhary and Anu KC got three wickets each for Nepalgunj.
In reply, Indu claimed 4 wickets for 17 runs as Nepalgunj were bowled out for 79 in 13.4 overs. Aksha Gurung and Sudha Thapa assisted with 2 wickets each. Samjhana Sharma and Kamala Budathoki topscored for losing side getting 9 runs each.
In earlier match, host Kathmandu beat Pokhara by 78 runs.
Kathmandu's Shilu Rijal during her 4 wicket haul. Photo by Kaushal Adhikari
Batting first, Kathmandu scored 128 for 2 with Sangita Gauchan and captain Shradda Aryal topscoring for the team. Sangita remained unbeaten on 38 off 44 balls while Shradda got 36 off 43 balls. Shilu Rijal con-tributed with 15 runs. All three of them hit 3 fours each. Cristine Tamang scored 13.
For Pokhara Prabha Nepali and Arya Aryal claimed a wicket each.
Player of the match Shilu then grabbed 4 wickets for 10 runs while Karuna Lama grabbed 3 wickets for 7 runs to bowl out Pokhara for 50 runs in 13.4 overs. Sumina Maharjan assisted with 2 wickets and Shradda claimed a wicket.
For Pokhara, Only Prabha scored in double-digit getting 11 off 15 balls.
At TU Ground, Janakpur outplayed Birgunj to move to the semifinals. Batting first, Janakpur scored 120 for 5 wickets with Anuradha Chaudhary and Shanti Chaudhary getting runs for the team. Player of the match Anuradha scored 45 off 50 balls with 6 fours and Shanti got 38 off 41 with four boundaries.
Rojina Aryal claimed 2 wickets for Birgunj. Subhadra Adhikari, Puja Giri and Nirmala Pakuwal each got a wicket.
Birgunj were bowled out for 75 in last over. Preety Thapa (18 off 25 balls) was the top scorer while other notable contributors were Rabina Ghimire (10) and Manisha Chaulagain (9). Laxmi Chaudhary led the bowl-ing with 3 for 15 as Mamata Chaudhary, Kabita Gautam and Anuradha each claimed a wicket.
In another match, Baitadi handed over Biratnagar their second defeat registering a 12-run victory. Batting first, Baitadi scored 95 for 5 wickets with player of the match Dropati Kunwar scoring 44 runs of 60 balls and Manisha Sodari getting 21.
Rubina Chhetri bowled well to claim 4 wickets giving away just 6 runs in 4 overs.
Sabina Shrestha got 35 off 55 balls for Biratnagar but no other batswomen contributed for the total as the team was restricted to 83 for 9 wickets. Chetana Bohara grabbed two wickets while Puja Bhatta, Roshani Chand and Anjali Chand each got a wicket.
On Friday, Birgunj meets Baitadi at IOE Ground and Kathmandu plays Nepalgunj at TU Ground in second matches of the day. The winners of both these matches will qualify to the semifinals.
Early in the morning, Bhairahawa will play Pokhara at TU Ground and Janakpur plays Biratnagar at IOE.
Woman’s U-19 National Cricket Tournament
AT TU GROUND
Janakpur 120/5 (Anuradha 45, Shanti 38, Rojina 2/24) beat Birgunj 75 in 19.5 over (Preety18, Laxmi 3/15) by 45 runs & enters semifinal.
Baitadi 95/5 (Dropati 44, Manisha 21, Rubina 4/6) beat Biratnagar 83/9 (Sabina 35, Chetana 2/16) by 12 runs.
AT IOE GROUND
Bhairahawa 125/9 in 20 overs (Pratikchhya Bashyal 29, Indu Berma 28, Mamata Chaudhary 3w, Anu KC 3w) beat Nepalgunj 79 all out in 13.4 overs (Indu Berma 4/17) by 46 runs and entered the semifinal.
Kathmandu 128/2 (Sangita Gauchan 38*, Shradda Aryal 36*, Shilu Rijal 15) beat Pokhara 50 all out in 13.4 ov (Shilu Rijal 4/10, Karuna Lama 3w) by 78 runs.