Lakpa Lama lays Birgunj low

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KATHMANDU, May 12 Man of the match Lakpa Lama grabbed four vital wickets to help Region No 1 (Biratnagar) to their first win in the Birendra Memorial National League Cricket championship as they defeated Region No 2 (Birgunj) by 78 runs at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground on Sunday.

The Easterners earned two vital points with the win. They had to share points with the tournament’s lowly Region No 5 when the match could not be played due to heavy rain last Thursday.

Birgunj are with four points and have a match in hand against Region No 4, which will take place on Monday.

A solid batting display by all-rounder Mehaboob Alam, who scored the tournament highest - 53 runs - enabled the Easterners to set 182 runs target in 48.4 overs before being all out. No Birgunj batsmen could play Biratnagar spinners and were eventually bundled out for 104 runs in 39.4 overs in reply.

Alam and youngster Yashwant Subedi gave a dream start to Biratnagar when they added 79 runs for the first wicket partnership in first 15 overs. Alam timed six perfectly executed boundaries in his 75-ball onslaught. Subedi also slammed 28 off 35 deliveries including three fours.

Sanjam Regmi was the first bowler to come up with reward when Prakash Sharma’s brilliant show behind the stumps sent Subedi to the pavilion. In his 5th over, Regmi trapped danger looking skipper Dipendra Chaudhary (10).

The introduction of veteran all-rounder Jai Prakash Saraf inflicted more pains to the Easterners as Saraf claimed four middle-order wickets in his 10-over spell giving away just 27 runs. The 25 year-old right-arm off-spinner, who has got nine wickets in three matches, clinched the wickets of Alam, Manjit Shrestha, Paras Luniya and Unil Shrestha to reduce Biratnagar in 163-8 in 45 overs.

Batting at number eight, Sarwajit Pandey scored unbeaten 23 runs as Lama and Manoj Katuwal supported him to pose a healthy 182-run target at the slow pitch of Tribhuvan University ground. Pace bowlers Binod Das and Rajiv Shrestha also picked up a wicket each.

"We can defend more than 170-run plus target in this spin-bowler friendly wicket," conceded Biratnagar captain Chaudhary. "Our boys lost concentration at the middle but anyhow we recovered well to bounce back in the match."

His counterpart Musaraf Izhar also echoed Chaudhary saying, "below 200 is attainable for our team but not at this wicket, which has deteriorated since six matches are being held here without interruption."

Birgunj run-chase never looked comfortable as their wickets failed at regular intervals allowing the opponent’s bowlers to maintain pressure throughout. Only Jitendra Yadav (20), Bikash Dali (19) and Saraf (18) could show some resistance as rest of the batsmen failed to stay at the crease.

Lama removed vital men including Das, Regmi, Saraf and Dali to rock Birgunj middle-order. "There is a good turn on the pitch and its very slow too, which means if you commit a slight mistake you have to pay the price," reported the 18-year old left arm orthodox bowler.

Apart from Lama, right-arm leg-spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan also bagged two wickets while Luniya, Unil, Manjeet and Alam claimed a wicket apiece.

Wilson clinch five-a-side football

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LALITPUR, May 12 Wilson & Company defeated Gyanodaya Academy 2-0 to lift the second Soccer five-a-side football tournament’s title at Jawalakhel football ground on Saturday.

Rajendra Shakya opened the scoring in the 11th minute for the winners. In the second half, Suman Yonjan confirmed the win through a full-blooded shot that kissed the opponent’s net.

Earlier, Gyanodaya beat Jyoti Academy 3-0 while Wilson edged past Manang Youth Society 2-1 in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Nepal Sports Journalists’ Forum could not convert the chance to book the semifinal berth after Kishor Bhattarai put them into lead against Jyoti Academy in the quarterfinal. Jyoti Academy scored further two goals to end the journalists’ campaign.

FIFA assistant referees Binod KC and Kiran Giri along with national referees Rajesh Shrestha and Om Neupane officiated the 20-team tournament. All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) president Ganesh Thapa handed over the shield and certificates to the winners and runners-up amid a function that was held after the final.