Teams from Nepal, USA, Italy, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Tanzania will converge on Bologna to compete in the fourth step of the World Cricket League as they push ultimately towards inclusion in the next ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) which is scheduled for 2013.

The top four finishers of the ICC CWCQ 2013 win themselves a place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be staged in Australia and New Zealand.

The top two sides at WCL Div. 4, which will be played from 14 to 21 August in Bologna, will win promotion to the WCL Div. 3 to be staged in Hong Kong in January 2011.

The sides are to be hosted on three grounds for the tournament – Pianora, Medicina and Bologna.

The full schedule for WCL Div. 4 is as follows:

12 August – Team arrivals
13 August – Practice
14 August – USA v Nepal (Pianora); Italy v Cayman Islands (Medicina); Tanzania v Argentina (Bologna)
15 August – Italy v Nepal (Pianora); Argentina v Cayman Islands (Medicina); USA v Tanzania (Bologna)
16 August – Rest/Reserve Day
17 August – Italy v Argentina (Pianora); Nepal v Tanzania (Medicina); USA v Cayman Islands (Bologna)
18 August – Cayman Islands v Tanzania (Pianora); Italy v USA (Medicina); Nepal v Argentina (Bologna)
19 August – Rest/Reserve Day
20 August – USA v Argentina (Pianora); Cayman Islands v Nepal (Medicina); Tanzania v Italy (Bologna)
21 August – Final (Pianora); third/fourth play-off (Medicina); fifth/sixth play-off (Bologna)

Kathmandu team after victory. Photo: Republica

Defending champions Kathmandu defeated Region No 1 Biratnagar by six wickets in the final match played at the TU Cricket Ground.

Batting first in the rain-affected 40-over match, Biratnagar were all out for 148 runs in 39 overs as Khadka claimed four wickets. Meanwhile, with Khadka scoring unbeaten 67, Kathmandu completed the victory in 36.5 overs.

Paresh Lohani scored 36 runs while Dipendra Chaudhary remained unbeaten on 15 runs. Biratnagar skipper Pushpa Thapa and Ajay Rajbanshi took a wicket each but Biratnagar could not bother Kathmandu as Khadka played a captain´s innings.

Earlier, Manjeet Shrestha´s 36 runs and Manoj Mandal´s 32 runs lifted Biratnagar to a total of 148. Rupesh Shrivastav and Sharad Vesawkar took two wickets each to limit Biratnagar.

Winners Kathmandu received Rs 75,000 along with the trophy while runners-up Biratnagar bagged Rs 40,000.

Khadka was named man-of-the-final and man-of-the-series. Khadka has taken 12 wickets in four matches with an economy of 3.67 and scored 130 runs at an average of 43.33. Khadka got Rs 15,000 for the award.

Pacer and former captain of national side Binod Das was awarded with the best batsman prize. The fast bowler of Region No 2 Birgunj has surprisingly scored 124 runs in two group stage matches at an average of 124. Das won Rs 10,000.

Likewise, Region No 6 spinner Bhuwan Karki was adjudged the best bowler of the tournament as he claimed eight wickets from two group stage matches. Karki also received Rs 10,000.

Special cash prizes of Rs 150,000 each were given by Pepsi and Standard Chartered Bank to the national side for winning the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 held in Kathmandu this February.

Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Tiwari Nepali, Sushil Jung Rana (Secretary of the Ministry), Binaya Raj Pandey (President of Cricket Association of Nepal), Sushil Tuladhar (Marketing Manager of Pepsi), Bikram Thapa (Representative from Pepsi), Diwakar Poudel (Head, Corporate Affairs of Standard Chartered Bank), Sujit Mundul (CEO of Standard Chartered Bank) gave away the prizes and awards.

Biratnagar defeated Region No 6 Baitadi by 29 runs on Friday at the Pulchowk Cricket Grounds. Kathmandu defeated Region No 4 Bhairahawa by five wickets at the TU Ground.

Biratnagar, batting first, put up 250 runs in the allotted 50 overs losing nine wickets. Manjeet Shrestha topscored for the side with unbeaten 65 runs off 49 balls. Ajay Rajbanshi contributed 46 runs while Kushal Tuladhar scored 35 runs.

Chandra Saud took five wickets for Baitadi. However, Manjeet´s blistering knock with five sixes and four boundaries took Biratnagar to a good total.

In reply, Baitadi were all out for 198 runs in 37.5 overs. Pradeep Ayree topscored for the side with 69 runs off 64 balls. Naresh Budha Ayer scored 55 runs while Santosh Bhatta added 39 runs. However, other batsmen threw away their wickets without contributing runs.

Man-of-the-match Ajay Rajbanshi took three wickets for Biratnagar.

Meanwhile, Kathmandu defeated Region No 4 Bhairahawa by five wickets at the TU Cricket Grounds.

Bhairahawa, batting first, performed very poorly and were all out for 93 runs in 28.3 overs. Subash Pradhan topscored for the side with 18 runs.

Pramod Basnet took four wickets while Paras Khadka and Rupesh Shrivastav claimed three wickets each.

Kathmandu met the target in 21.3 overs losing five wickets. Paras Khadka scored 26 runs for Kathmandu.

After Baitadi beat Kathmandu in the group A match, Region No 2 Birgunj got out of the tournament as they remained at the bottom of the group because of net run rate.

Kathmandu, batting first at the TU Cricket Ground, were all out for 134 runs in 39.4 overs. Gyanendra Malla (27 runs) was the top scorer for Kathmandu while Dipendra Chaudhary contributed 24 runs. Subash Khakurel added 21 runs.

Bhuwan Karki took four wickets while Santosh Bhatta claimed three wickets to rattle Kathmandu.

Baitadi met the target in 38.5 overs losing five wickets. Man-of-the-match Pradeep Ayree scored unbeaten 64 runs off 109 balls including five boundaries and three sixes. Santosh Bhatta added 26 runs for the winning side.

Baitadi will face Region No 1 Biratnagar in the semifinals while Kathmandu will face group ´B´ winners Region No 4 Bhairahawa.

Bhairahawa defeated Region No 5 Nepalgunj on Thursday at the Pulchowk Cricket Ground by 13 runs, which ensured semifinal berth for them and Biratnagar.

Batting first, Bhairahawa were all out for 194 runs in 45.5 overs. Opener Subash Pradhan scored 50 runs off 49 balls including 10 boundaries. Durgesh Rajali added 42 runs to take Bhairahawa to 194 runs.

Subhendu Pandey claimed four wickets for Nepalgunj.

In reply, Nepalgunj were all out for 181 runs in 48.3 overs. Man-of-the-match Pandey topscored for the side with 65 runs off 90 balls including six boundaries and three sixes.

However, Pandey could not seal victory for Nepalgunj as Rahul Kumar BK claimed three wickets and Lal Bahadur Adhikari took two wickets for Bhairahawa.

Birgunj defeated Region No 6 Baitadi at the IOE Ground in a Group A match. Biratnagar defeated Region No 5 Nepalgunj by four wickets at the TU Ground in a Group B match.

Birgunj, batting first, were all out for 211 runs in 49.1 overs.

Skipper Binod Das scored 60 runs off 59 balls including four sixes and two boundaries. This is the second consecutive half century for Das in the tournament. Das has scored half centuries twice before this tournament at the national level.

Anil Mandal contributed 38 runs while Sameer Nepal struck 24 runs. Baitadi gave away 30 extra runs.

Bhuwan Karki took four wickets for Baitadi.

In chasing 212 runs, Baitadi gave a good fight but were all out for 205 in 48.4 overs. Naresh Budhaair topscored for the side with 42 runs while Niraj Chand (28 runs), Santosh Bhatta (29 runs) and Pradeep Ayree (21 runs) were the other major contributors. Birgunj gave away 39 extra runs.

Rajiv Shrestha and Anil Mandal claimed three wickets each. Binod Das, who claimed a wicket also, was adjudged man-of-the-match.

Likewise, Biratnagar defeated Region No 5 Nepalgunj by four wickets at the TU Grounds in a group ´B´ match. Nepalgunj, batting first, compiled 130 runs in 40.5 overs losing all the wickets. Rupesh Shrestha topscored for the side with 33 runs.

Biratnagar bowler Amit Dahal completed his five-wicket haul. Man-of-the match Dahal bowled 7.5 overs with one maiden and gave away 17 runs.

In chasing the small total, Biratnagar met the target in 27.3 overs losing six wickets. Ajay Rajbanshi scored 42 runs while Kushal Tuladhar struck 32 runs. Pushpa Thapa contributed 27 runs for Biratnagar.

Navin Shahi took three wickets to delay Biratnagar´s victory.

In Group A match, Kathmandu defeated Region No 2 Birgunj by 66 runs while Bhairahawa outplayed Region No 1 Biratnagar by 8 wickets in Group B.

Kathmandu won the toss and chose to bat first. Openers Paresh Lohani and Subash Khakurel gave a 101-run first-wicket stand. Lohani scored 59 runs off 64 balls while Khakurel struck 43 runs. As Lohani and Khakurel gave flying start of 101 runs in 20 overs, middle-order batsmen chipped in to take Kathmandu to a good total of 269/5 in 50 overs.

Gyanendra Malla added 39 runs while Paras Khadka scored 32 runs. Dipendra Chaudhary was unbeaten on 36 runs while Sunam Gautam contributed 27 runs.

Anil Mandal took two wickets while Rajiv Shrestha and Kumar Thapa claimed a wicket each.

While chasing the total, Birgunj also started well as Mandal (27 runs) and Aakash Singh Pariyar (27 runs) produced a first-wicket partnership of 57 runs. In the middle-order, skipper Binod Das scored unbeaten 64 runs and anchored the innings. Batting alongside captain Das, Sanjam Regmi (22 runs) produced a 45-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

However, the experienced duo could not take Birgunj to victory and they were all out for 203 runs in 46.3 overs. In his blistering knock of 64 runs off 46 balls, Binod struck five sixes and two boundaries.

Man-of-the-match Paras Khadka took three wickets to seal victory for Kathmandu.

In Group B match, Bhairahawa thrashed Region No 1 Biratnagar by eight wickets at the Pulchowk Cricket Grounds. Biratnagar, who thrashed Bhairahawa in the final of the T20 tournament on Monday, could not extend their form to the One Day format.

Batting first, Biratnagar were all out for 83 runs in 25.1 overs. Santosh Baral (27 runs), Mehboob Alam (22 runs) and Manoj Mandal (10 runs) were the highest contributors for Biratnagar.

Amrit Bhattarai sent three Biratnagar batsmen to the pavilion while Shakti Gauchan and Vijay Thapa took two wickets each.

Chasing the small total, Bhairahawa met the target in 19.2 overs losing two wickets. Subash Pradhan topscored for the side with 32 runs while Shakti Gauchan added unbeaten 25 runs and Durgesh Rajali remained not out on 15.

Pushpa Thapa claimed two wickets for Biratnagar.

Amrit Bhattarai was adjudged man-of-the-match for his three wickets.

Region No 1 Biratnagar celebrates winning the Pepsi Twenty20 National League. Photo: Republica

Region No 1 Biratnagar won the title of the Pepsi T20 Men´s National League Cricket Tournament. Biratnagar defeated Region No 4 Bhairahawa by eight runs in the final match played at the Pulchowk Cricket Grounds on Monday.

Batting first, Biratnagar put up 104 runs losing all wickets at the completion of the 20th over. Manjeet Shrestha topscored for the side with 35 runs off 16 balls including three sixes and as many boundaries. Mehboob Alam scored 24 runs while Sunny Pun contributed 17 runs.

Rahul Kumar BK claimed three wickets for Bhairahawa.

Chasing the total, Bhairahawa reached 96/7 in 20 overs. Bhairahawa could not reach the target though Subash Pradhan scored 41 runs and Dipesh Khatri added 27 runs.

Man-of-the-final Mehboob Alam claimed three wickets to seal the victory for Biratnagar.

Winners Biratnagar bagged Rs 50,000 while runners-up Bhairahawa received Rs 35,000.

Player of the Series Mehboob Alam. Photo: Republica

Alam also won the player-of-the-series award as he scored 155 runs in six matches and took 11 wickets with an economy rate of 3.32. Alam got Rs 10,000 as the award.

Likewise, Gyanendra Malla of Region No 3 Kathmandu won the ´best batsman´ award as he scored 136 runs from five matches while Binod Das of Region No 2 Birgunj got the award for best bowler as he took 13 wickets in five matches with an economy of 4.56. Malla and Das bagged Rs 5,000 each.

Vice President of National Sports Council Pitamber Timalsina, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Binaya Raj Pandey, Upendra Prasad Bhattarai (vice president, CAN), Suranjan De (CEO of Pepsi), and Diwakar Poudel (Head, Corporate Affairs Standard Chartered Bank) handed over the awards and prizes to the teams and players.

CAN is organizing Pepsi One Day National Cricket Tournament from Tuesday. Biratnagar will take on Bhairahawa in the opening match at the Pulchowk Cricket Grounds while Birgunj will face Kathmandu at the TU Cricket Grounds.

Region No 3 Kathmandu win Wai Wai Women's T20 National League. Photo: Republica

In a low-total match, Kathmandu bowled out Nepalgunj for 46 in 16.4 overs to register a eight-run win after scoring 54 in 16 overs.

Captain Neera Rajopadhyay took five wickets in her four overs giving away 10 runs to wreck the Nepalgunj innings and lifted the title. Neera was supported by Geeta Khadka and Shraddha Aryal, who each grabbed two wickets.

Nepalgunj began the chase well adding 18 runs for opening stand before Geeta Chudal got Sita Rana (10) in the seventh over. From then on, it was a disaster for Nepalgunj as Neera and co began taking wickets at regular interval.

No other batswomen reached double-digit.

Earlier, Kathmandu won the toss and elected to bat first but Sita Shahi and Binu Buda Magar took four wickets each to bowl out the hosts, playing the final for the first time in three events, for a lowly total.

Only Shraddha got double-digit scoring 17 off 40 balls while Kathmandu also benefitted from 18 extras. Nary Thapa and Samana Pun got a wicket each for Nepalgunj.

Kathmandu Captain Neera Rajopadhyay: the player of the final & best batswoman. Photo: Republica

Neera was also named the best batswoman of the event for scoring 117 at an average of 29.25 in 5 league matches while Nepalgunj captain Nary was named the best bowler. She took 11 wickets in 5 matches.

Khina Thapa of Region No 4 Bhairahawa got the player of the series award for her 70 runs and 12 wickets in 5 league atches.

Prizes were distributed by chief guest Peter Bakker, the operation manager of CQ University of Australia which donated Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) equipment worth $10,000; CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey and vice president Upendra Prasad Bhattarai.

Also present were Tarak Dixit (Secretary of CAN), Santosh MardanThapa (Member of CAN), Binod Raj Rajbhandari (Member of CAN), Arun Satyal (Member of CAN), Bhim Shrees (Ex. President of Free Student Union of T.U) and Lal Babu Chaudhary (Representative from Chaudhary Group).

Electing to bat first, Bhairahawa compiled 132 runs in the limited 20 overs losing nine wickets. Bhairahawa had a disastrous start as they were at 8 runs losing two wickets.

However, Shakti Gauchan scored 40 runs off 48 balls and anchored their innings. Likewise, Antim Thapa struck 28 runs and Dipesh Khatri remained unbeaten on 24 runs to take Bhairahawa to a good total.

Binod Das claimed three wickets for Birgunj.

While chasing the total, Birgunj batted horribly and were all out for 43 runs in 17.4 overs. Dipendra Shah and Ajay Mandal were the highest scorers as they struck seven runs each.

Man-of-the-match Krishna Karki took three wickets while Amrit Bhattarai and Rahul Kumar BK took two wickets each to demolish Birgunj.

With the win, Bhairahawa have four wins from as many matches. Bhairahawa will take on Region No 1 Biratnagar on Sunday.

In another match, Biratnagar defeated Region No 6 Baitadi by four runs on Saturday to keep their hopes alive for the final.

Biratnagar, batting first, put up 132 runs in the limited 17 overs losing eight wickets as the match was shortened by three overs because of wet pitch. Although Biratnagar lost wickets at regular intervals, opener Mehboob Alam´s blistering innings of 52 runs off 28 balls and Ajay Rajbanshi´s 24 runs took them to a good total.

Shakti Bhandari, Pradeep Airee and Prem Budal claimed two wickets each for Baitadi.

Baitadi gave a good fight in the run chase as Binod Bhandari (62 runs off 47 balls) and Shakti Bhandari (43 runs off 34 balls) played blazing knocks. However, no other batsman contributed in double figures and they were limited to 127/7 in 17 overs.

Man-of-the-match Mehboob Alam took three wickets while Manjeet Shrestha plugged two Baitadi wickets.

With the win, Biratnagar have six points from four matches while Birgunj have equal points and superior net run rate than Biratnagar from five matches. Kathmandu have four points from four matches while Baitadi have two points from four matches.

Kathmandu will take on Baitadi on Sunday and will be hoping for Bhairahawa´s win against Biratnagar.

Winning the toss, Kathmandu elected to bat first and piled up 104 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing three wickets. Captain Neera Rajopadhyay struck 38 runs off 34 balls while Nima Tamang scored 26 off 51 balls. Geeta Chudal contributed 14 runs off 30 balls while Baitadi gave away 20 extra runs.

Baitadi were to chase the total within 16 overs to qualify for the final but Kathmandu bowled them out for 90 runs in 19 overs. Anjali Chand (19 runs), Roshani Bohara (15 runs), Dropati Kunwar (unbeaten 12 runs) and Janaki Bhatta (11 runs) were the top scorers for Baitadi.

No other batswoman could score in double figure as player-of-the-match Sarita Magar took four wickets for Kathmandu.

Likewise, Region No 4 Bhairahawa defeated Region No 1 Biratnagar by five wickets in another league match on Saturday.

Biratnagar, batting first, put up 82 runs in 20 overs losing all wickets. Kabita Gautam and Rubina Chhetri each scored 17 runs while Bhairahawa gave away 32 extra runs.

Khina Thapa Magar took three wickets to limit Biratnagar.

In reply, Bhairahawa met the target in 19.1 overs losing five wickets. Khina Thapa Magar scored the highest 28 runs while Madhu Thapa and Neetu Thapa Magar scored 11 runs each.

However, Biratnagar completed the league round in third position while Baitadi remained in fourth and Bhairahawa in fifth position. Birgunj are at the bottom of the table.