Madhesh Province confirmed a semi-final spot from Group B after a dramatic tie against Bagmati Province in the Prime Minister Cup National One-Day Cricket Tournament at the TU ground in Kirtipur on Monday.

Electing to bat first, Madhesh were bowled out for 190 runs in 46.2 overs after Rohan BK contributed 63 runs. Chasing the target, Bagmati seemingly looked headed to their first victory in the tournament with the score at 3-128 in 33 overs. But they lost their remaining seven wickets for 62 runs with scores tied as Rijan Dhakal was dismissed as the 10th wicket on the second delivery of the last over. Dhakal was caught by wicketkeeper Anil Sah off the bowling of Rajesh Yadav.

The outcome ensured a top-two finish for Madhesh with a match in hand while Bagmati bowed out of the tournament. The winners between Nepal Police Club and Madhesh will secure the top position in the group that sends the top two finishers into the last four. The former national captain Gyanendra Malla-led Bagmati finished at the bottom of the team standings.

After the departure of captain and opener Harishankar Shah for 13 runs, BK shared a 44-run stand for the second wicket with Santosh Karki, who scored a 48-ball 23. BK hit six boundaries and two sixes in his patient 94-ball knock before he was caught by Bibek Magar off Ramnaresh Giri.

Anil Sah (10), Bishal Shusling (11) and Rajesh Yadav were other batters of Madhesh to score in double-digit figures.

Bagmati bowlers Nandan Yadav and Surya Tamang bagged three wickets each, while Ramnaresh Giri and Praits GC accounted for two each.

Chasing the target, Bagmati were off to a strong start. There was a 61-run stand for the opening wicket before Ishan Pandey was dismissed for 31 runs off 34 balls. His opening partner, Rit Gautam, hit an 83-ball 32.

Prithu Baskota was the highest scorer for the team, scoring a 52-ball 40. Trapped leg before by Rupesh Singh, Baskota hit two boundaries and a six. Bibek Magar contributed a 51-ball 25 while Surya Tamang was the other batter to add a double-digit score hitting 28 off 32 balls. Captain Malla was out for two runs.

Rajesh Yadav and Pradip Paswan claimed three wickets each, while Rupesh Singh picked up two.

Sudurpaschim sign off with consolation win

Sudurpaschim Province signed off with a consolation win, defeating Karnali Province by five wickets in a dead rubber game at the Mulpani ground.

Sent in to bat, Karnali were bundled out for 150 runs in 38.1 overs, despite a half century by Arjun Gharti. Chasing the target, Sudurpaschim made 155-5 off the fourth ball of the 30th over after Sher Malla hit a winning six off Dipendra Rawat.

With their first win, Sudurpaschim wrapped up their campaign with two points. They are ahead of Karnali, who are yet to open their account on the points table in the five-team Group A.

Karnali batter Gharti scored 70 off 96 balls that included four hits to the fence along with five sixes. He was caught by Basant Khatri off Gajendra Bohara. Suwash Ayer, who contributed a 22-ball 24 and Himanshu Shahi who scored 12 off 38-balls were the only other Karnali batters to manage double-digit scores.

Sudurpaschim’s Naresh Joshi claimed four wickets in his 5.1 over spell, conceding 16 runs while Hemant Dhami accounted for three wickets that fell.

Chasing the target, Sudurpaschim opener Ganjendra Bohara hit a 51-ball 41 while Sher Malla contributed an unbeaten 33-ball 34. Raju Rijal was not out on 24 runs while Tek Rawal scored 18 runs.

Karnali’s Rabindra Shahi grabbed three wickets and Diwan Pun took two.