Cricket
Lumbini shock Bagmati, Sudurpaschim stay perfect in U-19 national cricket
Bishal Bikram KC’s team win by 85 runs. Anurag Singh’s side thrash Madhesh Province by seven wickets to stay on top.Sports Bureau
Bagmati Province succumbed to a shock 85-run loss by Lumbini Province at the Mulpani cricket ground on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Lumbini posted 234 before bowling Bagmati out for 149 in 35.3 overs.
The defeat not only brought Bagmati’s winning run in the tournament to a crashing end but also dealt a hammer blow to their hopes of advancing into the final, with a clash against in-form Sudurpaschim Province looming.
Meanwhile, Sudurpaschim thrashed Madhesh Province by seven wickets in the day’s other game at the TU cricket ground to move two points clear of Bagmati in the seven-team standings.
Bagmati are second with eight points and face the leaders in their final league match.
The win reignited Lumbini’s chances to reach the final as Lumbini climbed up to third with six points after three wins and one loss and still have two matches in hand. Their only defeat came against title favourites Sudurpaschim on Friday.
Lumbini face a relatively easier fixture in already eliminated teams Madhesh and Province 1 in their final two matches, and can pip Bagmati to the second spot if they win both games and Bagmati lose against Sudurpaschim.
If Bagmati win against Sudurpaschim—the only unbeaten team so far in the tournament—and Lumbini win both, the top two positions will be decided on the net run rate.
At Mulpani, openers Aakash Tripathi and Dev Khanal gave Lumbini a solid start to their innings putting on a 72-run stand.
Khanal scored 46 runs off 54 balls before he was caught behind off Omkar Yadav (2-29) in the 16.2 overs.
Tripathi made 40 facing 70 deliveries. He was trapped lbw by Pratik Shrestha (3-55) in the 27.1 overs.
Prajjwol Thapa (9), captain Bishal Bikram KC (11), Sunil Bhandari (1) and Nirmal Gurung (9) all departed without making significant contributions.
Vishal Bhusal added 20 before he was bowled by Abishek Koirala (2-56) as Lumbini were reeling at 150-7.
But Tul Bahadur Thapa hit 28 and Durgesh Gupta smashed a quickfire 38 off 25 balls and shared a 51-run partnership for the ninth wicket to lead Lumbini to a moderate total.
In response, Gupta took 4-15 in his 5.3 over bowling spell to rattle the Bagmati batting line up.
Gupta struck early removing opener Lucky Kathayat for a nought and Uttam Magar for 11. Kathayat’s opening partner Sakshyam Bastakoti was out for 9.
Yogest Bhatt followed next after scoring 13 as Bagmati were in big trouble at 62-4.
Captain Ashok Poudel top scored for Bagmati contributing 31 before Tul Bahadur (2-23) had him caught by Gupta to halt the progress.
Bagmati’s second highest scorer Shrestha added 27 before he was trapped leg in front by Nirmal Gurung, and Roshan BK fell making 23, caught by Tul Bahadur off Avishek Gautam.
In Kirtipur, Sudurpaschim extended their winning streak to five games in as many matches with a dominating win over the already eliminated Madhesh.
Naren Saud starred with the ball returning the figures of 5-24 as Sudurpaschim skittled out Madhesh, who elected to bat first, for just 122 in 38.1 overs.
Ali Ansari top scored for Madhes with 32 runs. Imran Sheikh provided the second highest score hitting 28.
In the run chase, Sudurpaschim opener cracked 53 off 58 balls that included six fours and two sixes and shared a half-century stand with Dipak Bohara, who made 24, as they chased down the target in just 18.5 overs.