Sudurpaschim Province and Province 3 entered the semi-finals of the Manmohan Memorial Inter-Province U-16 National cricket tournament on Friday.

In the day’s first match reduced to 22-over-a-side due to rain, Sudurpaschim defeated Karnali Province by 35 runs. The victory meant Province 3, who were not in action on Friday, also made it through with one match in hand. Province 3 and Sudurpaschim have four points from two games and their clash on Saturday will determine the Group ‘A’ winners.

A half century from skipper Suwash Ayer lifted Sudurpaschim to 114-8 in 22 overs and the captain returned to pick up three wickets bundling out Karnali for just 79 runs in 18.4 overs. A 27-run partnership between Unish Bikram Singh (13) and Ritik Jung Shah for the sixth wicket was the best Karnali could do in the game. Sandesh Bhatta’s run out of Singh resumed the Karnali collapse as they lost their last five wickets for just 26 runs.

Shah made a run-a-ball 19 with two boundaries and Bibek Shahi (17) was their next best scorer. Man-of-the-match Ayer took 3-10 from 2.4 overs and Bhatta also had two scalps. Earlier, Ayer held the Sudurpaschim innings after he began with a 54-run opening wicket stand with Dhirendra Kunwar (12). Ayer was the only Sudurpaschim batsman to play with some grit in his 46-ball 54 that included eight hits to the fence. Mohan Gurung took 3-12 from three overs, while Shah and Singh also picked up two wickets for Karnali.

Province 2 were unlucky to share points against Province 1 in the day’s second match in which they were seemingly heading towards a massive victory. Brilliant half centuries from Rohan BK and Parsuram Yadav had helped Province 2 pile up a mammoth 188-7 in 30 overs. Province 1 were reeling at 33-3 in 11.5 overs before rain intervened and washed out the remainder of the game.

BK had laid the foundation for a big total sharing 61 runs for the second wicket with Meghraj Mahara (29) and another 50 with Yadav. He made 62 off 57 deliveries hitting five boundaries and four sixes. After BK’s departure, Yadav led the charge for Province 2 and shared 47 runs for the fourth wicket with Niraj Yadav (17). Yadav was unbeaten on 51 off 45 deliveries hitting four boundaries. Simran Rai took three wickets for Province 1 but was hit for 41 runs in six overs. Sonu Mandal also took two wickets for them. Province 2 will take on Province 5 for a place in the last four on Saturday.