Pokhara achieves 2nd win, APF off to flying start

KATHMANDU, Dec 12: Region No 8 (Pokhara) achieved its second win in a row on Wednesday in the One Day National Cricket Tournament while star studded Armed Police Force (APF) started its campaign in style with a thumping 162 runs win over Region No 1 (Biratnagar) to inflict it second defeat from as many matches.



In the match played at TU ground, Kirtiupur, the all round performance of Nischal Pandey inspired Pokhara to 28 runs win over Region No 6 (Baitadi). [break]Pandey scored 73 runs and claimed two wickets for Pokhara that garnered 201/9 in the 50-over match and bowled out Baitadi for 173 runs in 43.2 overs. Pandey was later declared the man-of-the-match.



Opener batsman Pandey´s patient knock off 120 ball included nine boundaries. Pandey played 38 runs partnership with opening pair Arjun Raj Adhikari (22) who was sent to the pavilion in 7.4 overs. Pandey bowled out in the 43.6 overs by Ramesh Chand played 51 runs partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Deepesh Khatri (26).



Wicket keeper Akash Thapa (21), Rahul BK (11), Shiva Subedi (9) contributed for Pokhara. Sushil Kadel and Rijan Prajoo were out without opening score. Ashik Shrestha (6) and Shiva Shrestha (4) were unbeaten.



Yagya Man Kumal was pick of Baitadi´s bowling who claimed four wickets in his nine over spell conceding 40 runs with one maiden over. Chandra Sawad, Kamal Raj Joshi, Pradip Airee, Prem Tamang, Ramesh Chand and Santosh Bhatta took one wicket each.



Baitadi´s misery in its run chase began in early moments, as it lost two wickets with six runs on the board. Opening pair of Roshan Nepali (4) and Ramesh Chand (0) had an early exit in 1.5 overs. Eighth order batsman Santosh Bhatt remained unbeaten for 42 runs off 58 balls that included five fences. Skipper Binod Bhandari (36), Mahendra Chand (20), Prem Tamang (19), Naresh Budhayer (15) scored for Baitadi.



Pradip Kharel claimed three wickets for Baitadi while Shiva Shrestha, Deepesh Khatri, Rahul BK, Sushil Kadel and Pradip Kharel got one scalp each.



In the match played at Pulchowk ground, APF posted a mammoth target of 271 runs losing nine wickets after electing to bat first and bundled out Biratnagar for 108 runs.



Opening pair of Paresh Lohani (65) and Subash Khakurel (86) gave a solid start to APF playing 144 runs partnership for the first wicket. Lohani, caught by Manjeet Shrestha in 22.1 overs, hit nine boundaries off 75 deliveries. Khakurel who was declared the man-of-the-match blasted three sixes and 11 fences before being caught by Sunny Pun. Sarad Vesawkar (43), Shakti Guachan (19) Skipper Paras Khadka (16), Sunam Gautam (15) contributed for the departmental team. Gyanendra Malla (9) and Basanta Regmi (3) were out cheaply.



Manjeet Shrestha of Biratnagar claimed four wickets while Ajay Rajbanshi and Kamal Kishor Premi got two scalps each. Pushpa Thapa got one wicket.



Biratnagar had a poor start in its huge run chase. Biratnagar lost wickets at regular interval and was restricted to 65 for six wickets. Eighth order batsman Bidhan Goshami was the highest scorer with 32 runs on board. Skipper Manjit Shrestha (15) and opener Manoj Mandal (12) were the only other batsmen to score double digit. Suny Pun (3), Ajay Rajbanshi (7), Pushpa Thapa (6), Jugal Kishor Chaudhary (9), Mehbood Alam (9) Raj Kumar Pradhan (0) and Amit Dhakal (0) were out cheaply. Kama Kishor Premi was unbeaten for four runs.



Amrit Bhattarai and Gyanendra Malla of APF claimed two wickets each while Sunam Gautam, Shakti Gauchan and Basnata Regmi took one wicket each.



Thursday´s matches

APF Vs Baitadi @ Kirtipur

Birgunj Vs Nepalgunj @ Pulchowk

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