Province 3 recorded second successive win while Province 6 inflicted the second straight loss on Province 4 in the U-16 Cricket League at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first in the first match of the day, Province 5 failed to capitalize on an explosive knock from Bishal Bikram KC to post a mediocre 140 runs on the board off 24.1 overs. Province 3, who beat Province 4 by 90 runs on Tuesday, replied with 146-3 in 28 overs.

Apart from KC, only two other Province 5 batsmen—Amar Mishra (15) and Sushant Thapa (12)—were able to score in double figures as the team failed to bat out their quota of 30 overs. KC fell 11 runs short of a century after clobbering 13 fours and three sixes in his whirlwind 48-ball knock. Tilak Bhandari was pick of the Province 3 bowlers with figures of 3-32 while Deepak Bohara took 2-28.

Bipin Shah and Bohara laid a solid foundation in their chase putting on a swift 53-run stand for the first wicket in just 6.4 over. But Bohara dismissal triggered a remarkable Province 3 collapse which forced them on their back foot. Shah scored 29 off 31 balls and Bohara blasted 18-b all 26

Man-of-the-match Krish Karki, batting at No 7, however played sensibly to steer his team to victory with two overs to spare. Karki remained unbeaten on 41, his 44-inings included four boundaries and a six. Bishal Bikram KC yet again was standout performer for Province 5 with the ball as well, taking 3-22 but yet again his effort went all in vain.

In the day’s second match, Province 6 defeated Province 4 by three wickets. Province 4 scored a lowly 98-4 in 30 overs and Province 6 replied with 101-7 in 17.5 overs.

Arjun Kumal remarkably scored almost all the team’s total himself with Province 4 batsmen finding runs hard to come by. While Kumar scored a fluent 61 off 75 balls with 11 hits to the fence, their second best contributed consumed 73 deliveries to score 15 runs. Benit Khatri took two and Unish Bikram Singh took one wicket for Province 6.

Province 6 themselves were in dire strait as seven of their batmen lost their wickets without even reaching double figures but opener Prakash Jaishi bailed them out with an unbeaten half century knock. Man-of-the-match Jaishi scored 59 off 52 balls with eight hits to the fence. Sharad Tiwari, Nishan Kunwar and Nitesh Thapa claimed two wickets apiece for Province 4.

Province 1 will take on Province 2 while Province 5 will play against Province 6 on Thursday. The seven provincial teams have been divided into two pools and top two from each groups will make it to the semi-finals. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the AFC U-16 Eastern Region tournament slated for April 18-29 in Thailand.