KATHMANDU, May 2: Province 7 and Province 2 are set to vie for the title of the ongoing first Manmohan Memorial Inter-province U-16 Cricket Tournament after they beat their respective opponents in the semifinals on Tuesday. 

In the semifinal matches played at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Province 7 beat Province 1 by five wickets, while Province 2 registered a 41-run victory over Province 3 to reach the final. 

In the first last-four match, Province 1 won the toss and elected to bat first and presented a target of 149 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 30 overs. In reply, Province 7 chased the target in 22 overs for the loss of five wickets making 150 runs. 

Bibek Mehta scored the highest 41 runs off 22 balls including two sixes and five fours, while the opener Rajan Magar hit 22 runs off 42 deliveries with four boundaries for Province 1. 

Narendra Sawas was the pick of Province 7 bowlers as he pocketed four wickets giving away 13 runs in the six overs he bowled. Similarly, Manoj Lothyal claimed two wickets, while Rahul Bhandari nicked one. 

Province 7 displayed a stable batting performance as Suwash Ayer hit the highest 37 runs off 29 deliveries including seven fours, while the opener Rajan Singh supported him by scoring 32 runs off 28 balls with a six and three boundaries. Likewise, Bhandari got 25 off 20, Roshan Sawad added 23 off 23. 

Sameer Timilsina, Mehta and Karna picked up a wicket each for Province 1. 

In the second semifinal match, Province 3 won the toss and opted to field first and was presented a target of a gigantic 216 runs by Province 2 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 30 overs. In reply, Province 3 failed to chase the target and was all out for 175 runs in 28.5 overs. 

Province 2 did not start well as the opener Imran Sheikh hit just 11 runs off 16 balls with a boundary, but the other opener Amit Yadav smashed 86 runs off 74 balls including a six and eight fours. He was supported by Bibek Yadav who made not-out 63 runs off 26 balls which included seven sixes and a four, while Sujit Shah contributed 35 runs off 43 balls. 

Pratish GC and Sushant Karki picked up two wickets each for the losing team. 

GC also scored 48 runs off 21 balls with four sixes and three fours, while Sambhav Shrestha made 34 off 43 and the opener Deepak Bohora hit 30 runs off 31 balls.

Bikram Kushwa was the stand-out player for the winning team as he picked up four wickets giving away 24 runs, while Sunny Sah claimed two. Likewise, Bibek Yadav, Samsad Ali Mansuri and Das pocketed a wicket each. 

The final match will be played on Wednesday.

 
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