Region No 4 (Bhairahawa) defeated Region No 1 (Biratnagar) by three wickets at the TU Cricket Ground on Friday to top the group B of the Wai Wai Women’s U-19 National Cricket Tournament.
Indu Berma’s all-round performance helped Bhairahawa to become the winner of the group. Biratnagar finished the group stage as runner-up.
Biratnagar elected to bat first and put up 98/7 in allotted 25 overs. In reply, Bhairahawa reached 100/7 with two overs remaining.
Berma took two wickets, a catch and involved in two run-outs to restrict Biratnagar. Soniya Paudel, Sudha Thapa and Alisha KC claimed a wicket each.
Biratnagar opener Kajol Shrestha scored 35 runs off 56 balls before Berma trapped her LBW. Sabnam Rai remained unbeaten with 15 runs off 17 balls while Sanjhan Budhathoki added 13 runs off 37 balls. Bhairahawa bowled 20 runs as extras.
Coach Jagat Tamata hands over player-of-the-match trophy to Indu Berma
In reply, Bhairahawa could not have good start as it was at 4/2 in 1.1 overs. However, Nitu Bhandari (27 runs off 37 balls) and Aaksha Gurung (14 runs off 35 balls) put up a 51-run partnership for third wicket. As Bhandari and Gurung lost their wickets, Bhairahawa lost two more wickets quickly. However, Berma remained unbeaten with 25 runs off 31 balls to guide her team to the victory mark.
Yanji Sherpa claimed three wickets and involved in a run out while Sanjhana Budhathoki claimed two wickets for Biratnagar. Sabnam Rai dismissed a Bhairahawa batter.
Berma was adjudged player-of-the-match.
Bhairahawa will take on group A runner-up Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) while Biratnagar will lock horns with group A winner Region No 7 (Janakpur) on Sunday.
In a battle of two already crashed out teams of group B, Region No 6 (Baitadi) edged past Region No 8 (Pokhara) by 37 runs.
Baitadi elected to bat and put up 125/8 in 25 overs as Bindu Rawal scored unbeaten 39 runs off 64 balls and Anjali Chand added 21 runs off 18 balls. Pragya Pokharel took three wickets for Pokhara. Pokhara gave away 39 runs as extras, including 31 wide deliveries.
Chasing the total, Pokhara reached only 88/4 in 25 overs. Pragya Pokharel scored 15 runs off 35 balls while Priya Gurung remained not out with 12 runs off 31 balls. Sushila Gurung also scored 12 runs off 35 balls. Chetana Bohara claimed two wickets while Anjali Chand and Sonu Khadka took a wicket each. Though Baitadi gave away 37 runs as extras, Pokhara batters could not accelerate innings.
Baitadi opener Bindu Rawal was adjudged player-of-the-match.