Pratik Shrestha scored a century as Bagmati Province defeated Province 1 by 72 runs to register their second straight win in the Under-19 National Cricket Tournament on Friday.

Sudurpaschim Province also maintained their winning streak with a 100-run drubbing of Lumbini Province in the day’s other match at the Mulpani cricket ground, thanks to a five-wicket haul by pacer Aakash Chand.

Middle order batter Shrestha scored an unbeaten 142 to help Bagmati post 269-9 in 50 overs after being sent in to bat at the TU cricket ground.

His 105-ball knock featuring 10 boundaries and nine sixes came as a relief to Bagmati, whose top order collapsed and they were in trouble at 79/4 in 19.2 overs.

Opener Lucky Kathayat departed cheaply for 8, bowled by Ashish Magar. Uttam Magar, who hit 87 against Gandaki in the opening win, fell without making a run after he was caught by Ashish off Abhinaya Rajbanshi after facing just six balls. Opener Sakshyam Bastakoti (23) was run out next, before captain Ashok Poudel (25) was caught behind off Bipin Mahato.

But Shrestha kept his cool at the crease to smash his first career century and guided Bagmati to a respectable total. Shrestha’s century—that came in 90 balls—is also the tournament’s first century.

Atharva Poudyal contributed 15 runs.

Dipesh Kandel, Bipin and Sonu Ansari took two wickets each for Province 1 while Rajbanshi and Ashish picked up one each.

In reply, Province 1 wobbled early in the run chase as opener Ansari was bowled for 13 by Ahamad Raza.

Ansari’s opening partner Suvan Gahatraj made 26 before he was trapped lbw by Omkar Yadav. Bhupal Dangal too departed cheaply, making just 8 runs. Estain Rijal added 35 off 87 balls before he got run out.

Captain Kandel made 47 off 66 balls, taking Province 1 score to 168, before he was removed by Yadav. Sakriya Karki struck to remove Nikhal Yadav (7), Ashish (0), Rajbanshi (0) to halt the scoring momentum of Province 1.

Bipin added 21, but to no avail, as Province 1 were skittled out for 197 in 49.1 overs.

At Mulpani, after being sent in to bat, Sudurpaschim’s batting crumbled as openers Deepak Bohara (17), Bishal Ayer (16) fell rather cheaply. Captain Anurag Singh (9) and Milan Bohara (1) departed cheaply as well to leave their side in deep trouble at 48/4.

But Dipak Bohara scored a half-century to lead the fight back. He smashed eight fours in his 73-ball 54 but Sudurpaschim lost wickets at regular intervals with batters at the other end failing to make any significant impression. They were 180 all out in 49.5 overs.

It was an easy target for Lumbini and could have launched their Under-19 50-over cricket campaign in style.

But Sudurpaschim’s Aakash Chand was in no mood to allow Lumbini that joy. Chanda rattled the Lumbini batting line up with his aggressive pace, taking 5 wickets in just three overs to bundle out Lumbini for 80 runs in just 21 overs.

Opener Aakash Tripathi top scored for Lumbini with 22 runs before he was caught by Chand off Hemant Dhami, who returned figures of 3 for 17.

Dev Khanal, who brought in the experience of playing for the senior team, was out for 13, caught behind off Kaisash Ayer.

Vishal Bhusal could not open his account. He was trapped leg before by Dhami. Bishal Bikram KC became the first casualty of Chand, who bowled the Lumbini captain for just 9 runs.

Dhami sent back Prajjwol Thapa next, for nought.

Chand then cleaned up the rest of the Lumbini batting line up in less than two overs to fire his side to the top of seven-team standings.

Bagmati are also level on four points with Sudurpaschim after two wins in as many matches but remain second. Province 1 sits in the third position.

Madhesh Province will open their Under-19 cricket campaign against Bagmati at Mulpani on Saturday. Lumbini will lock horns with Karnali Province in the day’s other match at Kirtipur.