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| Kathmandu, Wednesday May 08, 2002 Baishakh 25, 2059. |
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Ritesh
Baral buries Region No 5
Post Report
KATHMANDU, May 7: Left
arm pacer Ritesh Baral’s sensational seven-wicket gave Region No 3 just a kind of
start they wanted as they trounced Region No 5 by nine wickets in the opening match of the
Birendra Memorial National League Cricket tournament at the Tribhuvan University cricket
ground on Tuesday.
This is second time the
prolific 26-year-old cricketer came up with seven wickets in a limited over cricket
tournament within a month. Earlier, he damaged Nuwakot clinching the same numbers of
wicket in the regional-level selection tournament representing Tribhuvan University at the
same venue.
"This one was
vital because Region No 5 are better opponents than Nuwakot district," said the
ecstatic speed star after the match.
The visitors
captain’s decision to bat first after winning the toss got a huge blow when Baral
stunned them with an impressive three wicket-burst in his first and match’s second
over. He removed Arun Thapa –a first-ball duck - caught brilliantly at the mid-wicket
by Paresh Lohani and then trapped Dhirendra Bahadur Chand in the very next ball. But Rohit
Sharma denied him a hattrick with a cautious defensive shot before leaving the crease two
balls later when Baral’s change of pace beat him.
Baral claimed two more
consecutive wickets in his third over to reduce the visitors at mere 11 for seven in 10
overs. Only Dhan Bahadur Chettri could cross the double figure mark scoring a steady 15
runs before being bowled out by Raju Basnet in his desperate attempt to accelerate the run
rate.
Apart from Baral,
skipper Basnet, Pratik Pradhan and Maheswor Shrestha claimed a wicket each to reduce the
visitors at lowly 46 all out in 26.3 overs.
"Lack of practice
caused the rampage over our batting but I hope guys will improve a lot in our next match
against Region No 2 on Wednesday," said dejected captain Khagendra Kunwar adding
"we need a couple of change in our line-up."
Chasing a very small
target the local team got after a flyer hitting both the pacers Imtihaz Siddiqui and Arun
Karna all over the ground. Siddiqui conceded 16 runs in two overs while Karna gave away 24
in three. Nirajit Rimal made 19 runs before being run out in an attempt to steal a run off
Rafique Ansari’s bowling when Chettri wisely supplied a throw at the bowlers end from
short mid-off. Paresh Lohani’s entertaining innings of unbeaten 25 runs included a
sixer and a boundary. He wrapped up the match in style hitting Rafique Ansari over the
fence at long on. The local reached the mark in 6.3 overs as Bardan Chalise remained
unbeaten without facing the strike. |
