Bagmati Province defeated Gandaki Province by 74 runs to make a flying start in their U-19 50-over National Cricket Tournament at the TU cricket ground in Kirtipur on Wednesday.

Uttam Magar cracked 87 off 70 balls that included 10 boundaries and three sixes and Yogesh Bhat smashed 52 off 42 balls that featured five fours and three sixes to help Bagmati post 293 after being sent in to bat first.

Player of the match Magar and Bhat also shared a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket in an aggressive 58-ball knock that laid the foundation for a solid victory for Bagmati.

Sudip Aryal, who returned 3-62, broke their precious stand edging Bhat behind the wicket in the 34.6 overs. The pacer next had Magar caught by Govind BK two overs later to halt their march.

By then Bagmati were already cruising at 199-6 despite Nirtesh Giri (3-53) causing early damage cleaning up the top order. Giri had removed both openers Shakshyam Bastakoti (18) and Lucky Kathayat (12) before sending Dipan Baniya (6) back to the pavilion.

But Omkar Yadav hit 20-ball 37 and Abishek Koirala added 32 facing 14 deliveries to guide Bagmati to 293 total. Atharva Poudyal contributed 21 runs off 29 balls.

Captain Subash Bhandari, Arjun Kumal and Cibrin Shrestha picked a wicket each.

In the run chase, opener Kumal scored 98 in a 119-ball knock that lasted through to the 44th over before Yadav denied him his first career century, after he was caught by Bhat in the covers.

Kumal hit nine boundaries and one six in a lone battle as batters at the other end kept departing at regular intervals, with Shrestha scoring second highest 21 for Gandaki.

BK, Karan Pangeni and Bhandari were the other batters to reach double-digit figures making 13 runs each.

Ashok Poudel took 3-64 that also included the wicket of skipper Bhandari while Karki, Yadav and Pratik Shrestha pocketed two scalps each to restrict Gandaki to 219 in 45.4 overs.

Teams from all the seven provinces are participating in the single round robin tournament that runs until December 5. The top two teams at the end of the group stage will vie in the title clash.

Karnali Province will take on Sudurpaschim and Gandaki will face Province 1 on Thursday.