Cricket
Province 3 make short work of Sudurpaschim, enter semi-finals
Saurav Khanal’s 90 upstages a marathon century from Anil Gurung in Province 5’s victory over GandakiAdarsha Dhakal
Province 3 made short work of Sudurpaschim Province with a six-wicket victory to enter the semi-finals of the Prime Minister Cup One-Day National cricket tournament finishing Group ‘A’ winners on Monday.
In what looked like a one-sided contest at the Mulpani cricket ground, Surya Tamang took 3-26 from 10 overs as Sudurpaschim were bundled out for just 154 runs in 45.1 overs. A half century from Ishan Pandey then steered Province 3 to 155-4 in 33.2 overs. After the result, Province 3 finished at the top of the table on net run rate after they were tied on six points with Nepal Armed Police Force Club.
In the semi-finals, Province 3 will meet Group ‘A’ runners-up Tribhuvan Army Club and APF will be up against unbeaten Nepal Police Club.
Opener Khadka Bohora once again top scored for Sudurpaschim after making a 61-ball 40 with five hits to the fence. His 32-run partnership with captain Sher Malla was the only bright spot for Sudurpaschim in the game after Tamang contained their batsmen. Roshan Adhikari was next best scorer with 55-ball 27 and Naresh Bohora contributed 26 runs to the total.
Apart from Tamang, Pratish GC and Jitendra Singh Thakuri picked up two wickets for Province 3 in their miserly bowling spells. Skipper Paras Khadka and Nandan Yadav also had one scalp apiece.
Province 3 had a mediocre start after they lost openers Rabin Joshi (13) and Rit Gautam (11) with 37 runs on the board. Khadka and Pandey added 49 runs for the third wicket to speed up the chase before the captain lost his wicket for a 19-ball 26 that included four hits to the fence.
Pandey stayed firm and added another 50 runs with Aadil Khan as Province 3 neared victory. Pandey made 84-ball 53 with six hits to the fence and fell prey to Mahesh Adhikari. Khan scored 33 from 42 balls with three fours and a six. Binod Lama, Malla and Basanta Agri also took a wicket each for Sudurpaschim.
The match in Mulpani carried significance to Province 5 who ended up third in Group ‘B’ with five points after defeating Gandaki Province by three wickets. Had Province 3 lost to Sudurpaschim, the defeat would have opened up chance for Province 5.
Anil Gurung scored a scintillating century, the third in the tournament, as Gandaki made 234 all out in 49.2 overs. Saurabh Khanal finally hit form after a lengthy barren spell leading Province 5 to 235-7 in 49.5 overs. Khanal, whose bat has remained quiet after a whirlwind performance in the first edition three years ago, steadied the ship sharing 55 runs for the third wicket with Nischal Chaudhary.
The former U-19 cricketer then forged a match-winning partnership of 92 runs with Pranit Thapa Magar to take Province 5 close to the finishing line. Khanal scored a 112-ball 90 with 12 hits to fence and when he was dismissed, Province 5 were just two runs away from victory.
Thapa Magar made 45 off 66 with five boundaries and Chaudhary hit a 51-ball 33 striking four boundaries. Kishore Mahato took two wickets for Gandaki. Bishal Paudel, Dipesh Shrestha and Govinda Pradhan also had a wicket each.
Earlier, Gurung provided a decent start to Gandaki with a 54-run opening wicket partnership with Pradhan. Gandaki innings then revolved around Gurung who was dismissed in the 50th over after making a marathon 152-ball 115 hitting five fours and a six. Dipesh Shrestha was their next best scorer with 37-ball 28.
Anil Kharel was the pick of the Province 5 bowlers taking 5-28 from 9.2 overs. Captain Krishna Karki and leg-spinner Bikram Bhushal also took two wickets each for them. In an inconsequential match on Monday, Sudurpaschim will take on Gandaki Province.
Summaries
Province 3 155-4 in 33.2 overs (I Pandey 53, A Khan 33*; B Lama 1-26, S Malla 1-39) beat Sudur Paschim Province 154 all out in 45.1 overs (K Bohara 40, R Adhikari 27; S Tamang 3-26, J Thakuri 2-17, Pratish GC 2-37)
by six wickets
Man-of-the-match: Surya Tamang
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Province 5 235-7 in 49.5 overs (S Khanal 90, P Magar 45; K Mahato 2-61, G Pradhan 1-25) beat Gandaki Province 234 in 49.2 overs (A Gurung 115; A Kharel 5-28, B Bhusal 2-51, K Karki 2-56) by three wickets
Man-of-the-match: Saurav Khanal