KATHMANDU, May 8: Province 2 batsmen held their nerves in the tense chase to defeat Sudur Paschim by four wickets to lift the first-ever edition of Manmohan Memorial National U-16 Cricket Tournament in a final match played at Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Tuesday. Province 2 chased a target of 134 runs with 21 balls to spare to claim the U-16 national trophy. 

Chasing the target, wicket-keeper opening batsman Rohan BK continued his good form with the bat scoring 36 runs, providing an early boost to the provincial team against favorites Sudur Paschim. BK smashed three boundaries and three sixes during his 21-ball stay. He shared a partnership of 57 runs with fellow opening batting partner Sheikh Imran who scored 29-ball 14 runs which included three boundaries.

Ashish Bhatta scalped three wickets to keep the Sudur Paschim in hunt for the win. Similarly, Govind Bist and Sachin Badayak shared a wicket each. Badayak had dismissed Meghraj Mahara, the player of the match of the semifinal, for three runs raising Sudur Paschim’s hopes of defending the total. However, Bist was expensive in his six overs in the match conceding 52 runs. 

Sudur Paschim Province’s skipper Suwash Ayer receives the player-of-the-series award. 

Sudur Paschim skipper Suwash Ayer, the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, did not bowl in the innings due to injury. He only fielded two overs in the second innings as vice-captain Arun Mahara took over the captaincy duties for the remainder of the match.

At one stage, Province 2 was struggling with 78 runs for the loss of five wickets. Middle order batsmen Nikhil Singh and B Patel shared a partnership of 41 runs for the sixth wicket to secure the win. Singh scored a patient 27-run innings during his 47-ball stay which included three boundaries, whereas Patel remained not out on 28 runs facing 27 deliveries in the innings which included three boundaries.

Sudur Paschim conceded 22 extras in the match which made Province 2’s chase easier.
Earlier, Sudur Paschim had won the toss and elected to bat first. The heroes with the bat during the chase, Singh and Patel, had picked three wickets each to help limit the first batting team at 133 runs for the loss of nine wickets in a 30-over per side match. Likewise, Arabaj Ansari and Prashant Singh shared a wicket each. 

Ayer continued his glorious form with the bat scoring 47 runs from 54 deliveries which included seven boundaries. He took his total runs tally to 209 runs in five matches, 89 runs more than second played Ashish Bhattarai. Similarly, Sandeep Bist, Ashish Bhatta and Govind Bist contributed 28, 21 and 14 runs respectively to the total. 

The winning team received a cash prize of Rs 250,000 whereas the runner-up bagged Rs 125,000.
Sudur Paschim skipper Ayer claimed the player of the tournament award for scoring 209 runs and picking up nine wickets in five matches. Province 3’s Ashish Bhattarai won the best batsman award after scoring 120 runs in four matches. Bhattarai’s teammate Deepak Bohora scalped eight wickets in four matches to win the best bowler award. Likewise, Bhargav Chataut was recognized as the emerging player of the tournament.
 

 
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