Sundas guides Province 1 to first win; Kumal bats Gandaki to nine-wicket win against Karnali

Published On: May 5, 2019 09:14 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Province 1’s Suman Sundas (left) with the player of the match trophy after the match against Province 2 during the Manmohan Memorial National U-16 Cricket Tournament at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

KATHMANDU, May 5: Suman Sundas scored a patient inning of 41 runs to help Province 1 chase the target of 126 runs by a wicket against Province 5 in the ongoing Manmohan Memorial National U-16 Cricket tournament played at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

Player of the match Sundas faced 44 deliveries and smashed three boundaries in a tricky chase which ended in the last ball of the match.

Sundas shared a partnership of 68 runs for the second wicket with wicket-keeper batsman Einstein Rijal who scored 40 runs off 68 deliveries.

Simran Rai was the only other double-digit scorer of the innings with 10 runs to his name. Province 1 lost four wickets to run-outs whereas Abhishek Gautam and Ramesh Kurmi scalped three and two wickets respectively.

Earlier, Province 5 won the toss and elected to bat first. Prakash Giri top-scored with 58 runs from 51 deliveries to help post a total of 125 runs before getting all out in 28 overs. Likewise, Gautam’s 21 runs off 35 deliveries batting at number nine was the only other double-digit individual score of the innings. Province 1 conceded 12 runs in extras.

Bowling performance led by Bipin Mahato’s three wickets helped Province 1 keep the total under control. Sameer Timisina scalped two wickets and Sarwan Kisku, Rai and Abhishek Baral took a wicket each.

In the Group A match of the day, Arjun Kumal remained unbeaten on 49 runs off 54 deliveries which included five boundaries to help his team Gandaki Province defeat Karnali Province by nine wickets in a match played at same venue.

Player of the match Kumal, chasing the total of 88 runs, shared a partnership of 60 runs for the first wicket with Cibrin Shrestha who scored 17 runs before being dismissed by Suraj Budhathoki who claimed the only wicket to fall in the innings.

Earlier, Sharad Tiwari, Nitesh Giri, Nishan Kunwar and Aditya Thapa shared two wickets each to help Gandaki dismiss Karnali for 87 runs in 20.3 overs after the losing team won the toss and elected to bat first.

Thapa picked up the crucial wicket of Dilip Sunar who scored 44 runs off 37 deliveries including three boundaries and a six. Unish Bikram Singh was the only other double-digit scorer of the innings with 11 runs.

Province 2 will face Province 5 whereas Province 3 will host Sudurpaschim in their respective matches on Sunday.