Birgunj strolled to a nine-wicket win over Region 7 Janakpur at the TU Stadium, while Pokhara hammered Region 5 Nepalgunj by 98 runs at the Pulchowk Engineering College grounds.

Bowlers set up the victory for Birgunj by restricting Janakpur for 122 in 39.2 overs. Birjung top order batsmen Hasim Ansari and Amit Shrestha scored unbeaten half centuries to help Birgunj chase the target for the loss of one wicket in 15 overs.

Man-of-the-match Yashin Hawari (4-16) derailed the Janakpur batting, taking four of the top five batsmen in quick succession. Irshad Ahmed (2-25) and Kumar Thapa (2-15) polished off the Janakpur tail.

Shrestha and Rabi Thapa (9) made a blistering start to Birgunj’s run chase, putting on 49 runs before the latter fell to Rahul Pratap Singh in the eighth over. However, Ansari join Shrestha and the two batsmen took their team home with ease. Ansari was in his destructive best, scoring 28-ball 58. Shrestha scored 44-ball 50. The third win in four matches meant Birgunj are second behind Group A leaders Tribhuvan Army Club only on net run rate. Both have six points but TAC have played a game less.

In Pulchowk, Pokhara scored 234-8 in 50 overs and bowled out Nepalgunj for 136 runs in 36.5 overs. Several of the Pokhara batsmen made starts but failed to convert them into to big scores with man-of-the-match Nischal Pandey, who later returned to take four wickets, top scoring with 59-ball 41. Sudip Paudel (39), Bidhan Shrestha (37), Karan KC (27) and Sanjosh Bhattarai (26) chipped in valuable runs to the Pokhara total. Amar Singh Routela and Avinash Bohara claimed two wickets each for Nepalgunj.