Great Himalayan Cricket Academy (GHCA) and Baluwatar Cricket Club (BCC) entered the semi-finals of the first National Inter-club Youth Twenty20 Cricket Championship on Monday.

In the quarter-final matches at the TU grounds, GHCA edged Pulchowk Engineering College (IOE) by five runs, while BCC eased to a 46-run victory over SS Events. In the semi-finals on Tuesday, GHCA will play Himalayan Cricket Academy and BCC take on Tribhuwan Army Club.

Part time bowler Bijay Gautam was an unlikely star with the ball for BCC, who made 141-8 before restricting SS for 95 in 15.4 overs. SS on course for victory at 65-2 following a 56-run stand between Dipendra Chaudhary (31) and Subash Khakurel (21). But Prashanna Shakya removed both batsmen in a space of one run before Gautam wreaked havoc.

Man-of-the-match Gautam, the opener for BCC, took five wickets in his 10 legal deliveries to stifle SS. Ritesh Singh also took two wickets for BCC.

Earlier, Rabin Joshi hammered a 41-ball 59 with seven fours and a six guiding BCC towards a safe total. Sonu Tamang and Sunil Lama also chipped in 16 runs. Ajay Rajbanshi took 3-22 for SS.

Later in the day, GHCA reached 132-5 before stopping IOE at 127-8 in 20 overs. IOE lost opener Sumant Sah (seven) early in the game before a 75-run partnership between Gaurav Khadka and Pankaj Shah (20) put them in front foot. Ashish Pokhrel then removed both the set batsmen in the space of four runs to halt IOE charge.

Khadka posted a match-high 61 off 51 balls with eight fours and a six. Man-of-the-match Pokhrel took 3-23 from four overs, while four IOE batsmen were run out.

GHCA total was boosted by a composed 45-ball 47 not out from Rakesh Karn, who hit two sixes and a four. Pradeep Tandon also scored 30 off 26  balls. Astik Sharma and Bibek Koirala picked up two wickets each for IOE.