APF dispatched Region-I (Biratnagar) by 35 while Birgunj defeated Region-IV (Bhairahawa) by four wickets in the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for Monday at the Tribhuvan University grounds.

Electing to bat, APF put on 258-9 before restricting Biratnagar for 223 in 46.4 at the Pulchowk Engineering College ground.  Openers Sanjay Shrestha (70) and Paresh Lohani (43) put on 120 runs for the opening stand to lay the foundation for a good total. Veteran spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan (4-41), who has had a wonderful tournament with a total of 20 wickets, broke the partnership in the 21st overs when he had Lohani stumped. Shrestha, who smashed 11 boundaries and a six, fell prey to Mehboob Alam the very next over.

Bhuwan Karki then came to the departmental team’s rescue with his 39-ball 36 runs and Sanjam Regmi added 19 runs to propel the score past the 250 mark. Spinners Karki and Sanjam Regmi also took three wickets each for APF.

In reply Biratnagar lost half their batsmen to be 87-5 before Amit Shrestha briefly led the fightback with a fluent 82-ball 70. But his dismissal in the 42nd over all but ended their run chase. Man-of-the-match Bhuwan Karki took 3-23 and Basanta Regmi 3-30. Dipendra Chaudhary also grabbed 2-53 for APF.

At, the TU ground, Birgunj bowled last year’s finalists Bhairahawa for a lowly 207 runs in 48.4 overs and accomplished the target for the loss of six wickets in 44.4 overs.

Chasing a modest target, Birgunj did have a few hiccups after opener Anil Sah returned back to the dressing room for a duck in the very first ball. But a brilliant 71 runs from Hasim Ansari brought Birgunj back into the fray. Suraj Prasad Kurmi also chipped in 27 and Arif Seikh made 25. Ansari stroked 10 boundaries in his 82-ball knock. Lal Bahadur Adhikari grabbed three while Dipendra Yadav claimed two wickets for Bhairahawa.

Earlier, Ram Naresh Giri and Seikh took three wickets each to put Birgunj on the back foot. Antim Thapa made a patient 110-ball 56 to consolidate the Bhairahawa innings. Tailender Sankar Rana also made unbeaten 32 to help Bhairahawa post 207 on the board.