Baitadi, who were tied on four points with third-placed Region 4 Bhairahawa in Group ‘B’ standings needed to avoid a defeat of above 250 runs against a star-studded APF side who were already in the semi-finals. From +1.147, Baitadi had their run rate slide to -0.587 after the defeat, but it was enough for them to go through at the expense of Bhairahawa (-0.886).

APF finished unbeaten from the group with eight points from four matches, while Region 3 Kathmandu and Region 9 Dhangadi were already out of the contention. APF will now meet Group ‘A’ runners-up Region 2 Birgunj. Baitadi will be up against Group ‘A’ winners Tribhuvan Army Club in the semi-finals salted for Monday.

APF posted their tournament-high 310 all out in 49.1 overs riding on half centuries from Pradeep Airee, Dipendra Chaudhary and Prithu Baskota. Yagyaman Kumal and Pradeep Airee then wreaked havoc in the top and middle order as Baitadi were packed up for a paltry 67 in just 18.4 overs.

Baitadi were already thrown out of the game when Airee and Kumal accounted for the first six wickets that fell for just 15 runs. Airee took three of the four middle order batsmen who fell for ducks. Skipper Santosh Bhatt top scored with 18 off 35 with three boundaries and last man Rabi Chand (16) was their next batsman to make runs in double figures.

Kumal returned the figures of 4-18 from seven overs and man-of-the-match Airee took 3-14 from four. Basanta Regmi also had two scalps for the title contenders.

Earlier, APF didn’t have the best of the start when they lost openers Paresh Lohani (two) and Subash Khakurel (four) to Kamal Airee with just 16 runs on the board. Airee anchored APF innings with a 70-run stand for the third wicket with Aarif Sheikh (23) and 51 with Baskota for the fourth.

Airee smashsed 13 boundaries and a six in his quick fire 79 off 68. After the departure of Airee, Baskota and Chaudhary guided APF towards a big total with a 119-run fifth wicket stand. Chaudhary hit 11 boundaries in his 52-ball 69 before Kamal bowled him. Baskota was next to go for a composed 53 off 70 that included six boundaries.

APF could have piled even bigger score but Yogendra Karki prove to be a thorn for them. Karki picked up the remaining four wickets to halt APF. Basant Regmi (26) was APF’s next best scorer. Karki returned with 4-47 and Kamal took 3-58 from 10-over spells.