Bagmati Province thrashed Karnali Province by seven wickets to maintain their winning streak in the Under-19 National Cricket Tournament at the TU cricket ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday. The win was largely due to a timely five-wicket haul from Sakriya Karki and half-centuries from Lucky Kathayat and Ashok Poudel.

Fast bowler Karki returned figures of 5 for 23 in his 7.2 over bowling spell to help Bagmati bundle out Karnali, who had elected to bat first after winning the toss, for 130 runs despite a half century from their opener and captain Bipin Rawal.

Rawal hit 68 runs, facing 92 deliveries, that included nine boundaries before he was caught behind off Karki.

Opener Manish Thapa was the next highest scorer for Karnali with 25 off 35 balls that also featured a 37-run stand with Rawal for the first wicket. Thapa was caught by Lucky Kathayat off Ahamad Raza..

Rawal remained the sole contributor as none of the other batters, except Anirudh Kunwar (11) were able to score in double-digits. Raza and Karki combined for the next six scalps.

Omkar Yadav and Abishek Koirala took a wicket each.

In reply, opener Kathayat smashed an unbeaten 51 off 91 balls that included eight fours and captain Poudel cracked seven boundaries and one six in his 64-ball 59, as Bagmati chased down their target in 30.1 overs.

Anuj Chanara, Yunish Singh and Aawash picked up a wicket each.

The win cements Bagmati’s place in the second position in the seven-team table with eight points from four matches. Sudurpaschim, the only other unbeaten team, also have eight points but sit above Bagmati due to their superior run rate.

The top two teams at the end of the single-round robin league will meet each other in the title clash on December 5.

The loss means Karnali have crashed out of the tournament before playing two matches. They have two points after four matches.

In the day’s other action, Province 1 thumped Madhesh Province by 10 wickets to register their second win of the tournament.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Madhesh Province were all out for just 70 runs in 31.3 overs after their batting crumbled at the Mulpani cricket ground.

Opener Mayan Yadav top scored for Madhesh with 19 runs.

Dablu Malik, the second highest scorer of the innings, made 12.

Province 1 bowler Dipesh Kandel and Bipin Mahato took three wickets each. Sandesh Bhattarai accounted for two wickets that fell, while Ashish Magar and Aswin Mahato took one each.

In reply, Province 1 openers Sonu Ansari hit 45 not out off 67 balls and Suvan Gahatraj scored an unbeaten 24 off 50 balls as they reached their target in just 19.2 overs.

Province 1 are now placed fourth in the standings with four points, following two wins and two losses.

Winless Madhesh, who are at rock bottom, also exited the tournament after playing only three matches.

Second from the bottom team, Gandaki, have also been eliminated.

Madhesh will next face Sudurpaschim while Bagmati will take on Lumbini Province on Wednesday.