Region No 3 (Kathmandu) crashed out of the Wai Wai Women’s U-19 National Cricket Tournament as Region No 7 (Janakpur) registered a seven-wicket victory over it on Monday at the TU Cricket Ground.
Kathmandu, which had lost to Region No 2 (Birgunj) on Sunday, elected to bat and put up 66/6 in 20 overs. Due to the rain, the match was reduced to 20 overs per side from 25 overs. Janakpur reached the target in 18 overs losing only three wickets. Following the victory, defending champion Janakpur restored its hope of reaching semifinal. Janakpur had lost to Nepalgunj on Sunday.
Usha Bhujel scored 18 runs off 49 balls for Janakpur while Sarswoti Chaudhary remained unbeaten with 12 runs off 21 balls to seal the victory. Opener Shanti Chaudhary scored 11 runs off 28 balls. Asmina Karmacharya, Shanti Khatiwada and Susma Shrestha claimed a wicket each for Kathmandu. Kathmandu made Janakpur’s victory easier as they bowled 20 runs as extras.
Earlier, Kathmandu had put up a small total as the lower order batswomen faltered. Openers Kanchan Shrestha and Sandhya KC had scored 11 runs each for Kathmandu. Sangita Gauchan remained unbeaten with 13 runs off 34 balls but wickets kept on falling at the other end. None of the other batters reached the double-digit scores. Kathmandu would have more humiliating score on the board, had not Janakpur given away 22 runs as extras.
Roji Kadari took two wickets for Janakpur while player-of-the-match Sarswoti Chaudhary and Amrita Chaudhary claimed a wicket each.
Janakpur has two points from two matches while Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) and Region No 2 (Birgunj) have equal three points each from two matches at the top of the Group A points table.
Nepalgunj and Birgunj shared a point each on Monday as their group stage match was abandoned after persistent raining at the TU Ground. The match was abandoned when Birgunj was batting at 50/6 in 14 overs. Dimple Khadka had taken two wickets and Geeta Rana and Sarmila Rokka Magar had claimed a wicket each to trouble Birgunj by then.
Janakpur will take on Birgunj on Tuesday while Nepalgunj will lock horns with Kathmandu to decide semifinalists from the Group A of the tournament.