Sudurpaschim Province advanced into the final of the U-19 National Cricket Tournament following their crushing seven-wicket win over Bagmati Province at the Mulpani cricket ground on Friday.

Title favourites Sudurpaschim also maintained their perfect record as the only unbeaten team in the tournament that has seen drama coming into the final rounds.

The defeat evaporated Bagmati’s hopes of reaching the final as they dropped to third spot in the seven-team standings after playing all the matches.

Bagmati are level with Lumbini on eight points but the sorry output at Mulpani sent Lumbini above Bagmati on superior net run rate.

Only three days ago, Bagmati seemed to be comfortably cruising towards the final but a shock 85-run defeat against Lumbini—their first loss—put their campaign on the line and will now need help from Madhesh Province to have luck to book a title clash against Sudurpaschim.

The top two teams at the end of the league round will lock horns in the title match on Monday.

But it seems unlikely given Madhesh’s poor record in the tournament. Madhesh sit rock bottom and pulled off their only win defeating Gandaki Province in the Friday’s dead rubber action at the TU cricket ground.

Lumbini face Madhesh on Saturday and can confirm their place in the final with a win. Even a low-margin defeat against Madhesh would not stop Lumibini from progressing.

At Mulpani, Bagmati were in a must-win situation but caved in too easily after Sudurpaschim bowlers Hemant Dhami (3-22) and Aakash Chand (4-12) wreaked havoc to bowl Bagmati out for a low total of 124 runs in 28.4 overs.

Bagmati chose to bat first after winning the toss but their batting crumbled to their terror as seven batters departed without making a run.

Bagmati fell into deep trouble early in the innings when they lost four batters with 5 runs on board.

Opener Sakshyam Bastakoti (32 off 82 balls) and Pratik Shrestha (44 off 50 balls) staged a fight back putting on a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket to lift the innings.

Yuvraj Khatri (1-38) broke their partnership removing Shrestha in the 20.6 overs.

Roshan BK (36 not out off 24 balls) shared a 41-run partnership with Bastakoti giving Bagmati prospects of a good total.

But they lost the remaining five wickets for just 1 run.

In reply, Sudurpaschim captain Anuraj Singh scored an unbeaten 44-ball 39 and Milan Bohara made 33 facing 32 deliveries to guide their side to 127-3 in 19.1 overs for a comprehensive victory.

Openers Deepak Bohara and Dipak Bohara contributed 17 and 10 respectively.

Gajendra Bohara was not out on 19 runs.

In Kirtipur, Madhesh registered their first win of the tournament defeating Gandaki by five wickets.

Govind BK scored a half century as Gandaki, sent in to bat first after losing the toss, posted 213 in 48.5 overs.

Govind’s 84-ball 53 included four boundaries.

Sujan Gautam, second highest scorer for Gandaki, made 30 off 21 balls. Sudip Aryal and Karan Pangeni contributed 27 and 25 runs respectively.

Symon Roy took 3-40 while Abjit Mandal, Nitesh Yadav and Abhishek Tiwari pocketed two wickets each.

In reply, openers Mayan Yadav scored 49 runs off 74 balls and Megh Raj Ram hit 43 off 71 balls and put on a 74-run stand to give Madhesh solid start to their innings.

Ali Ansari provided the second highest score to Madhesh with 32. Imran Sheikh added 27 while Sarfaraj Mansuri contributed 21, Dablu Malik hit 21 not out and captain Abhishek Tiwari scored 13 not out as Madhesh reached 216-5 in 48.3 overs.