Cricket

An unbeaten century from middle-order batter Prateek Shrestha guided Bagmati Province to a 72-run win over Province 1 in the Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament.

The win, their second in as many games, has put Bagmati level on four points with Sudurpaschim. However, Sudurpaschim are in the top position because of the better net run rate. Bagmati defeated Gandaki by 74 runs in their first match.

Bagmati, invited to bat first by Province 1, posted 269 runs losing nine wickets in their 50 overs. Shrestha played an explosive inning of 142 runs with 10 fours and nine sixes from 105 balls.
He completed 100 in just 90 balls. Bagmati were once reduced to 105-6, but Shrestha and Atharva Poudel shared 100 runs for the seventh wicket to set for the big total.

Poudel gave good company to Shrestha as he stuck to the crease before being dismissed by Dipesh Kandel for 15 runs from 48 balls. 

Bagmati had a poor start, losing two early wickets. Ashish Magar bowled opener Lucky Kathayat out for 8 runs, and Uttam Magar was out for a duck.

They lost two consecutive wickets in the 15th over. Sachhyam, playing on 23, was run out on the non-striker after the shot from Ashok Poudel deflected off spinner Dipesh Kandel’s hand and hit the stumps. Poudel scored 25 and Yash Bhatt (14).

Pradesh 1 bowlers Kandel, Bipin Mahato and Sonu Ansari picked up two wickets each. Abhinaya Rajvanshi and Ashish Magar took one wicket each. 

Province 1, who opened their campaign with a 21-run win over Gandaki Province, struggled against tight bowling and sharp fielding. 

Chasing 270 runs for victory, they were all out for 197 runs in 49.1 overs. Captain Dipesh Kandel scored 47 runs off 66 balls with four fours and a six.

Fast bowler Ahmed Raja bowled out Province 1 opener Sonu Ansari for 13 runs. Wicketkeeper Subhan Gahatraj was out leg-before for 26 runs, while Aystein Rizal was dismissed for 35 runs.

Faizal Rahman was run out for 24 runs. While trying to steal a quick single, he slipped and fell on the ground and Poudel crashed the wicket before he could return home. Bagmati lower order batter Bipin Mahato scored 21 runs off 22 balls. 

Sakriya Karki took three wickets in 10 overs for 38 runs. Omkar Yadav took two wickets.
Bagmati meet Madhesh Pradesh at Mulpani ground on Saturday. Province 1 take on Sudurpaschim at TU ground on Monday.