Baitadi beat Janakpur, close in on semis

KATHMANDU, JAN 10 -
Baitadi registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Janakpur to almost ascertain their place in the semi-finals of the Senior Women’s National Cricket Tournament as Group A runners-up of Group A on Thursday.

Baitadi have a better net run-rate than Janakpur, who also had four points after four matches. Biratnagar have two points and even if they win their last game against Pokhara by huge margin, the chances of overhauling Baitadi’s net run-rate is very slip. In the other game, Kanchanpur registered their first win of the tournament beating Birgunj by 30 runs in Group B in Kirtipur.

Batting first, Janakpur were restricted to 147-7.  Baitadi completed their chase after 26 overs scoring 150-3 courtesy of Rekha Rawal’s unbeaten half-century.

 Janaki Bhatta trapped opener Shanti Chaudhary leg before wicket in the second over of the innings but a steady 61-run stand between Sobha Ale (38) and Anuradha Chaudhary (28) guided Janakpur to 62 after 18 overs. Janakpur then lost both the set batswomen in quick succession to Chetna Bohara.

Captain Kabita Gautam was looking dangerous on 31 before she was run-out by Manju Bokati. Janakpur then lost wickets at regular intervals with Saraswoti Chaudhary (10) and Mamata Chaudhary (14) the only other batswoman to score double figures. Janaki Bhatta took 2-22 for Baitadi .

Baitadi had a poor start to their run chase as opener Dropati Kunwar (6) was bowled by Santoshi Chaudhary in the eight over. However, Rekha Rawal (59) shared important partnerships with Anjali Chand (24) and Janaki Bhatta (32), to guide her team to victory after 26 overs. Sobha Ale (2-24) and Santoshi Chaudhary (1-39) were the only Janakpur bowlers to pick up wicket.

In the other game, Kanchanpur posted 185-7 in 40 overs. Birgunj could only muster 155 runs in 30.3 overs. Openers Bimala Bhatta (53) and Nirmala Chand (46) gave a solid start to Kanchanpur putting on 98 runs in 23.1 overs. Nirmala was then run out which started a collapse as Kanchanpur lost their next six wickets for 87 runs.  Sita Shrestha finished with figures of 3-35  for Birgunj.

In reply, Birgunj lost wickets at regular intervals as Sita Shrestha top scored with 46 runs. Rabina Ghimire chipped in 18 runs. Kabita Joshi (3-29) was pick of the Kanchanpur bowlers.

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