Cricket
Lumbini Province defeated Province 1 by 39 runs in a Group B match of the Prime Minister's Cup National One-Day Cricket Tournament at TU Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Lumbini put up a challenging total of 290 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs after captain Dev Khanal won the toss and batted first. Province 1 were bowled out for 251 runs in 46 overs.
Khanal scored 89 runs off 98 balls with the help of 11 fours, while Akash Tripathi contributed 45 runs playing 71 balls.
After the loss of Prajwal Thapa for nine runs, Lumbini captain Khanal and Tripathi shared 103 runs for the second wicket, setting the tone for the match.
Sandeep Razali (44), Bishal KC (32) and Krishna Karki (31) made useful contributions in setting up the team's big total.
Deepak Joshi was the most successful Province 1 bowler with four wickets. Shrawan Yadav took two wickets, while Laba Kamat took one wicket.
Captain Siddhant Lohani led Province 1 charge, playing an excellent inning of 74 runs from 60 balls. He hit 10 fours and two sixes before being trapped leg before by Ahmed.
Province 1 got off to an explosive start, with Ankit Subedi and Niraj Mukhiya putting on 85 runs in 12.3 overs for the first wicket. Ankit was dismissed for 52 runs off 48 balls with 10 fours before being run out. Mukhiya hit 10 fours to score 46 off 37 balls.
Firdos Ansari (16), Shrawan Yadav (15) and Sonu Mandal (20) were other major contributors.
Lumbini Pradesh's Durgesh Gupta, Basir Ahmed and Dev Khanal took two wickets each.
Madhesh Province, Lumbini and Province 1 are all level on four points in Group B, with the former having a game in hand. Lumbini are in second place, ahead of Province 1, on a better net run rate. With six points from three matches, Nepal Police Club have already entered the semi-finals. All three sides are still in the hunt for the semi-finals.
A win in one of the two matches or defeats by small margins in both will see Madhesh secure a place in the last four. However, heavy defeats will put Lumbini through. Madhesh have net return rate of +1.640 against Lumbini's -0.265. Bagmati, who have lost three matches, are already out of the contest with one game still to play.
