Baitiadi was introduced as the sixth region in the nation´s cricket scene in 2061 BS. [break]
Meanwhile, the defeat was a second in a row for Bhairahawa in the final of U-16. Baitadi coach Birendra Shahi termed the result as historical achievement for the region.
Baitadi´s Bhim Sarki was adjudged best bowler with nine wickets from three innings while skipper Deependra Chand received player of the final.
On Thursday, electing to bat first, Bhairahawa managed to score 136 runs losing nine wickets in 40 overs. Baitadi comfortably surpassed the target in 28.3 overs losing four wickets.
Bhairahawa batsmen were uncomfortable against the tight bowling of Baitadi bowlers. Bhairahawa had lost its three wickets with 13 runs on board. Opener Nurdhoj Sen (6), Sabin Ratna Shakya (2) and Khum Bahadur Disuwa (1) were the top order batsmen dismissed cheaply.
Prithvi Chhetri and Iklakh Ahmed shared 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Chhetri was sent back to the pavilion by Deependra Chand in 21st over.
After the fall of Chhetri, Bhairahawa continued to lose wickets at regular intervals but Ahmed stayed on the crease. Ahmed scored 43 runs off 69 balls including six boundaries. Bhim Sarki, Jagdish Chand, Bikash Bam and Deependra Chand grabbed two wickets each for Baitadi.
Chasing the comfortable target, Baitadi made solid start with 58-run partnership for the first wicket between Deependra Chand and Tekendra Mal. Chand scored 35 runs off 53 balls and gave away his wicket to Ahmed in the 12.4 overs. Puran Bahadur Singh and Mal shared 28-run partnership for the second wicket.
Singh gave away his wicket on 11 runs off 21 balls while Mal was removed from the crease on 35 runs off 52 balls. Jagdish Chand and Bhim Sarki guided the team towards victory. Chand scored 18 runs off 14 balls that included two huge sixes. The last of the two huge hits resulted in Baitadi´s win.
Iklakh Ahmed took two wickets while Parvez Alam and Rahul Bhattarai grabbed a wicket each.
Coach Shahi commented that the batting department of his team was sound and help pull off the comfortable victory. "The pitch supported spinners so well that we fielded more spinners instead of fast bowlers which resulted in our historic win."
Skipper Chand said that the match was expected to be tight but the bowlers did a great job by restricting Bhairahawa for a low total. "We were confident of winning the match and our plan worked well."
Skipper of Bhairahawa Sabin Ratna Shakya blamed bad luck and poor batting of the side for the defeat. "Cricket is the game of luck and we did not have any luck today."
Aquib Ali Ansari of Region No 2 Birgunj received best batsman award while Iklakh Ahmed was adjudged player-of-the-series. All the individual award winners were given two years scholarship for +2 programs in Ideal English School while the player of the tournament was awarded with a pair of pads and a bat.
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