Region No 1 (Biratnagar) pulled a 10-run victory over Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) at the Pokhara Stadium on Thursday to clinch the Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament.
Biratnagar elected to bat and was all out for 168 runs in 49.5 overs. In reply, Bhairahawa was all out for 158 in 49.1 overs.
It was maiden U-19 title for Biratnagar. Biratnagar has reached the final of the U-19 national for the first time in 10 years. Biratnagar had played its last U-19 final in 2003, when it was beaten by Bhairahawa.
Biratnagar opener Amol Das started the innings in style scoring 19 runs off seven balls including three boundaries and a six. Biratanagar lost wickets in quick span and limited to 27/4 by eight overs. However, Amit Dahal and Suman Shrestha put up an 86-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Dahal scored 36 runs off 82 balls while Shrestha garnered 31 runs off 57 balls. Tail-enders Rohit Singh and Kalicharan Yadav chipped in batting with 17 runs off 41 balls and 21 runs off 34 balls respectively.
Devendra Somare dismissed three Biratnagar batsmen while Eklakh Ahamed took two wickets. Susan Bhari, Krishna Sen, Bibek Chaudhary and Ganesh Gaudel claimed a wicket each to bowl out Biratnagar. However, Bhairahawa bowlers gave away 30 extras, which cost dearer to the team ultimately.
Chasing the 169-run target, Bhairahawa fell 10-run short. Susan Bhari was top scorer for Bhairahawa as he garnered 45 runs off 63 balls. Ganesh Gaudel (24 runs off 60 balls), Krishna Sen (17 runs off 45 balls), Man Bahadur Thapa (15 runs off 17 balls) and Eklakh Ahamed (unbeaten 14 runs off 31 balls) chipped in batting but all fell to guide Bhairahawa to the target.
Man-of-the-match Kalicharan Yadav claimed four wickets while Mukund Yadav took two wickets. Mayanand Chaudhary claimed a wicket for Biratnagar. Though the Biratnagar bowled 22 extras, three run outs helped them to seal the 10-run victory.
With the win, Biratnagar bagged Rs 25000 while runner-up Bhairahawa got Rs 15,000.
Avinash Karn of Region No 2 (Birgunj) claimed 14 wickets in the tournament and was adjudged man-of-the-series. Amit Dahal of Biratnagar took 11 wickets in the tournament and received the award for the best bowler. Kathmandu batsman Prakash Bista, who scored 115 runs in the tournament, was adjudged the best batsmen. Karn, Dahal, Bista and man-of-the-final Yadav received Rs 5,000 each.
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Tanka Angbuhang, CG Foods AGM Lal Babu Prasad and other CAN officials gave away the prizes to the winners.