Kathmandu, April 26

Povince 3 defeated Province 1 by two wickets in the opening match of the Manamohan Memorial Inter-Province U-16 National Cricket Tournament here at the TU Stadium today.

Batting first after winning the toss, Province1 scored 119-6 in their allotted 30 overs before Province 3 reached 120-8 with two over to spare. Province 1 recovered from a disastrous start to post the fighting total. They were 14-5 at one stage before Abhishek Baral and Bibek Mehta revived the innings with a 45-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Mehta then combined with Dipesh Kandel to add 60 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket.

Mehta top scored with an unbeaten 56 off 65 balls that included four boundaries and a six, while Kandel struck three fours and a six in his 37-ball 24 not out. Likewise, Baral scored 20 off 42 balls hitting a four.

Pratish GC was the pick of the Province 3 bowlers taking 4-11 from six overs, while Gaurav Katuwal took 1-21.

In reply, Province 3 reached the target with two overs remaining. Sushant Karki top scored for the team with 32 off 28 balls that included three boundaries, while Ashok Poudel scored 24 off 52 balls. Abhishek Basnet scored an unbeaten 19 off 32 balls, while Bipul Khanal scored eight not out. Sambhav Shrestha (12) and Aaish Bhattarai (10) also scored in double figures.