Ashutosh Ghiraiya scored a century before Ishan Pandey took a five-wicket haul as Bagmati Province defeated Koshi Province by 64 runs to register their third consecutive victory at the Prime Minister Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament in Kirtipur on Friday.

Ghiraiya, who had scored 92 runs in Bagmati’s opening loss to Nepal Police Club, smashed 118 runs in his 111-ball knock that featured 16 fours and two maximums, after Koshi sent Bagmati to field first.

Opener Ghiraiya also put on a 131-run stand with captain Rit Gautam for the second wicket to lay foundation for Bagmati’s success at the TU Cricket Ground. Gautam scored 49 runs in his 60-ball innings that included four hits to the boundaries.

Gautam fell in the 28.3 overs when he was caught by Sonu Ansari off Avyash Timishina, who took 3-43 that also included the prized wickets of Pratish GC and Rabin Joshi.

Ghiraiya, who was given a lifeline with a dropped catch by Sujan Thapaliya when was on 45, punished Koshi reaching his ton off 99 balls and taking Bagmati to 184-2 but was caught by Kamal Khatri off Hemant Rai (2-54) soon after the drinks.

Joshi, who joined Ghiraiya at the field after Gautam left, contributed 43 to help Bagmati post 273 in 48.3 overs.

Opener Pandey had failed to impress with the bat after managing just six runs but found redemption with the ball, returning a match figure of 5-39 in this eight-over spell.

In the run chase, captain Ankit Subedi and Thapaliya scored half-centuries but it proved insufficient.

Openers Subedi and Sonu Ansari put on a 45-run opening stand to give Koshi a strong head start. Subedi hit 53 runs off 65 balls, cracking four fours and two sixes.

Pratik Shrestha ended their opening stand in the 12th over dismissing Ansari (21) but Koshi’s chase still looked on track when Thapaliya coupled with Subedi for another strong partnership—a 69-runs stand—to take Koshi to 114-2.

However it proved to be a false dawn for Koshi.

After Pandey removed Subedi in the 24.3 overs, Koshi never recovered.

Thapaliya (59 runs off 76 balls) completed his half century off 60 balls but was dismissed by spinner Surya Tamang—Bagmati’s brightest bowler so far with 19 wickets in this tournament—in the 36.5 overs. Tamang took two wickets for Bagmati on Friday.

Pandey then struck fiercely to subdue Koshi and their chance of success, removing Firdosh Ansari (5), Bhupal Luitel (3), Kamal Khatri (4) and Timishina (5).

Aaish Bhattarai staged a late fightback by scoring 32 not out but Rijan Dhakal checked Koshi’s late recovery taking the wicket of Rai.

The win moved Bagmati up to second position in the ten-team standings but their opening two losses could prove costly.

They have played two games more than leaders Sudurpaschim (six points), three-games more than third-placed Police (four points).

Tribhuvan Army Club, holders Armed Police Force Club, Karnali are also in the race. They all have four points and each have two games in hand.