Binod Lama bowled Sudurpaschim Province to a four-wicket win over Gandaki Province in the PM Cup One-Day National cricket tournament at the Mulpani ground on Tuesday.

With Province 3, Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club and Armed Police Force Club already securing the semi-final berths, the match between the two Group ‘A’ bottom teams held no significance to the tournament. The result meant Sudurpaschim finished fourth with three points and Gandaki at the bottom without a single point. Province 3 and APF qualified for the last-four from the pool with Province 5 ending up in third with five points.

Batting first Gandaki never recovered the early jolt to be bowled out for 89 runs in 20.4 overs. Sudurpaschim did manage to chase the target but not before going through some nervy moments, reaching 93-6 in 29.2 overs. After openers Anil Gurung (1) and Bidhan Shrestha (0) lost their wickets cheaply, No 3 batsman Rahul Sharma fought a lonely battle for Gandaki. As wickets tumbled at the other end, Sharma played a superb innings, scoring 49-ball 41 with four boundaries and a six. Apart from Akash Thapa (12) and Kishore Mahato (14) no other Gandaki batsmen were able to score in double figures. After Mahesh Adhikari (2-18), Sher Malla (2-17) and Narendra Saud (1-18) accounted for the top-order Gandaki batsmen, Binod Lama polished off the tail with a burst of five wickets.

Chasing a low total, Sudurpaschim were in deep trouble after losing six wickets for just 33 runs. But Saud and Aakash Chand rescued their team from the brink of defeat putting on an unbroken 60-run stand for the seventh wicket. Chand scored 34-ball 29 with two sixes and as many fours, while Saud made 42-ball 23 with two hits to the fence. Mahato claimed three and Bipin Khatri took two wickets for Gandaki.

Province 3 will take on Army Club in the first semi-finals at the TU Stadium in Kirtipur on Wednesday. The second semi-final match between NPC and APF is scheduled at the same venue on Thursday.

Summary

Sudurpaschim Province 93-6 in 29.2 overs (A Chand 29, N Saud 23; K Mahato 3-23, B Khatri 2-26) beat Gandaki Province 89 in 20.4 overs (R Sharma 41; B Lama 5-25, M Adhikari 2-18, S Malla 2-17) by four wickets.

Man-of-the-match: Binod Lama