DANG, DECEMBER 26

Nepal APF Club and Lumbini Province registered big wins on the opening day of the Sagarmatha Cement Prime Minister Cup Women’s National Cricket Tournament here today.

APF defeated Karnali Province by 204 runs, while Lumbini thrashed Province-2 by nine wickets in Group A matches at the proposed Deukhuri International Cricket Ground in Lamahi.

Batting first, APF amassed 235-4 in their allotted 20 overs before packing Karnali for a paltry 31 runs in 14.1 overs Player of the match Sita Rana Magar top scored for APF with 68 off 59 balls that included eight boundaries, while her opening partner Jyoti Pandey struck three fours in her 30-ball 32.

The openers made a flying start putting up 97 runs in 8.3 overs before skipper Rana Magar combined with Sarita Magar to add 99 runs for the second wicket. Sarita Magar hit six boundaries in her unbeaten 44 off 34 balls. Indu Barma scored 12-ball 22 with the help of four boundaries. Dikshya Puri took two wickets for Karnali, while Nisha Parajuli and Anju Gurung claimed one wicket each.

In reply, none of the Karnali batters could score in double figures as the team was dismissed cheaply.

Skipper Laxmi Rimal (six) was the top scorer for the team, while five batters even failed to open their accounts. Karuna Bhandari was the pick of the APF bowlers taking 5-2 from 3.1 overs, while Rajmati Airee bagged 2-6 from two overs. Sonu Khadka and Rekha Rawal also pocketed one wicket each for the departmental side.

In the inaugural match, Province-2 managed 77-7 in 20 overs before Lumbini raced to 78-1 with 23 balls to spare. Lumbini openers Gita Gosai and Saraswati GM put 53 runs in 12 overs before the latter was dismissed for 22 off 44 balls.

Gosai and skipper Nary Thapa then took the team home safely adding 25 runs for the unbroken second wicket. Gosai remained unbeaten on 23 off 42 balls that included two fours, while Thapa struck two boundaries in her 13- ball 15 not out. Kabita Gautam took the only Lumbini wicket that fell in the innings.

Earlier, opener Anuradha Chaudhary and Sana Prabin scored 21 runs each for Province-2 but they consumed 41 and 48 balls respectively. Bimala Magar scored 14-ball 10 that included a four.

Player of the match Sushmita Bhusal was the pick of the Lumbini bowlers taking 3-10, while Sawstika Bajgai, Nary Thapa and Gita Gosai claimed one wicket each.

A total of eight teams are taking part in the tournament organised by Cricket Association of Nepal under the auspices of National Sports Council. Gandaki, Bagmati, Sudur Paschchhim and Province-1 are in Group B.