Gandaki bag second win, Lumbini condemn Bagmati to third defeat

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 3: Gandaki Province defeated Karnali Province by 32 runs for its second victory while Lumbini Province inflicted Bagmati Province to a third defeat in a row at the PM Cup One Day National Cricket Tournament. 

Put on to bat first at TU Cricket Ground, Gandaki amassed 208 runs losing nine wickets in 50 overs. 

In reply, Karnali was all out in 47 overs adding 176 runs to the board. Middle order Himanshu Shahi’s unbeaten 69 runs off 116 balls provided some resistance for Karnali after another top run- collector captain Rabindra Shahi (84-ball 42) returned to the pavilion.  

Subash Bhandari and Chandra Paudel dismissed three batters each to stop Karnali from winning.

Earlier, the top order shone with their bats to help Gandaki past a double hundred. Opener Arjun Kumal (88-ball 49), one man down Bidhan Shrestha (104-ball 46) and two-man down Avishek Basnet (45-ball 51) were the chief contributors to the winning team. Rest of the batters fell cheaply except Subash Bhandari (10-ball 14).

Anuj Chanara (4-51) and Prakash Jaishi (3-37) contributed to Karnali in the bowling department. 

The result meant Gandaki equalled points with leader APF, who has four points but is superior in net run rate in Group A. 

At Mulpani Cricket Ground, Lumbini notched up an eight-wicket victory over Bagmati to make a winning start. 

Lumbini chased the 155-run victory target posted by Bagmati in 35.4 overs losing two wickets. 

Captain Dev Khanal’s unbeaten 119-ball 77 eased Lumbini to an empathic victory over Bagmati. Khanal cracked two sixes and eight boundaries in his half-century knock. 

Khanal put on the 80-run partnership for the second wicket with Prajjwol Thapa, who contributed 29 runs off 42 balls. 

Sandeep Rajali remained not with his patience 41-ball 29 knock. Rijan Dhakal and Pratis GC had one wicket for Bagmati. 

The win put Lumbini in second place behind the leader Nepal Police Club in the Group B standings. Police Club with four points leads the table. Lumbini toppled Province 1, who also has two points, in a net run rate.  

Earlier, the four-wicket haul from Anil Kharel restricted Bagmati to a mediocre score of 154 runs in 38.1 overs. Player of the match Kharel spent 30 runs and played three maiden overs in his spell of 10 overs.   Bishal Bikram KC produced an economic figure of 2-5 and Avishek Gautam’s 2-35 from his eight over also contributed to the collapse of Bagmati. 

Captain Gyanendra Malla chipped in with 46-ball 33 whereas Durgesh Thapa (39-ball 32), Ashutosh Ghiraiya (34-ball 22) and Surya Tamang (36-ball 17) were the contributors for Bagmati.