Sudurpaschim Province U19 team clinched the title of Naresh Shrestha Memorial WaiWai U19 National Cricket Tournament. Sudurpaschim defeated Lumbini U19 in the close final by eight runs to clinch a back to back title.
The Sudurpaschim Province U19 team won the title of Naresh Shrestha Memorial WaiWai U19 National Cricket Tournament, securing the title for the second year in a row. In a closely contested final, Sudurpaschim edged out the Lumbini U19 team by eight runs.
In the final held at GPK Cricket Ground in Biratnagar, Sudurpaschim, choosing to bat first, scored 127 runs before being bowled out in 37.3 overs. Although they started strong at 45/0, they struggled to maintain momentum and lost wickets regularly, leading to a modest total. Opener Abhishek Thapa was the top scorer with 29 runs, while Naren Bhatta contributed 27.
For Lumbini, Santosh Yadav delivered an impressive performance, taking five wickets with figures of 10-2-28-5. His left-arm spin partner, Ramesh Kurmi, also bowled economically and claimed three wickets.
In response, Lumbini found themselves in a solid position at 72/3. However, Sudurpaschim staged a remarkable comeback, reducing them to 96/9. The final pair needed 32 runs for victory and had managed to add 23, but their partnership was cut short by a run-out. Lumbini was ultimately bowled out for 119 in 43.1 overs, handing Sudurpaschim a thrilling victory. Aakash Tripathi scored 22, while No. 10 batter Shiv Kunwar contributed 20 runs.
Player of the final – Hemant Dhami picked up four wickets while Naren Saud and Sachin Bhatta gabbed two each.
Seven provincial teams competed in a single round-robin format in the tournament held in Biratnagar. Sudurpaschim and Lumbini each secured five wins, finishing first and second in the standings to qualify for the final.
Individual Best –
Best Batter – Sonu Ansari (Koshi) – 209 runs
Best bowler – Santosh Yadav (Lumbini) – 27 wickets
Player of the series – Santosh Yadav (Lumbini) – 27 wickets and 181 runs
