The show was marred with low runs from both teams but region no. 2 Birgunj was the better team restricting region no. 4 Bhairahawa below target, after being held to just 131 runs and clinching 5th National Cricket Championship for the first time here at TU International Cricket Ground on Sunday.

After losing the toss, Birgunj was put to bat where they lost wickets regularly. Birgunj started the game with a sluggish run rate and got a jolt when it lost its first wicket for 31 runs. Sanjay Wamjam and Anil Mandal tried their best scoring 31 and 24 respectively but disciplined bowling from the Bhairahawa side did not give any room to extend their tally. Birgunj was all out for 131 runs in 47.2 overs.

Off-spinner Vijaya Thapa and Basanta Regmi were on the mark with three scalps each while Antim Thapa took two wickets and Shakti Gauchan claimed one.

Coming to bat with a low total to chase in the allotted 50 overs, Bhairahawa did not play any better losing its first wicket for 25 runs. Opening pair of Manoj Baisya and Dipen Lamgade started the chase with a bang but they could not hold on as Bhairahawa also lost wickets at regular intervals.

With the Birgunj side bowling great, the Bhairahawa batsmen seemed hapless and couldn’t stand on crease as they wanted. Off-spinner Sanjam Regmi took three scalps while Kumar Prasunna and Raj Mahmood claimed two each. Dipesh Datta and national team captain Binod Das took one each.

CAN President, chief guest of the final match, gave away the prizes to winners and runners-up. Sanjam Regmi was declared man of the final. The winners walked away with 50,000 while runners-up had to be satisfied with 25,000.

Biratnagar were the winners of the previous four editions.