Itahari, January 16

Sudurpashchim Province and Province-I registered victories in the PM Cup Women's T20 National Cricket Tournament here at the Janata Cricket Park today.

Sudurpashchim defeated Gandaki Province by nine wickets in a low-scoring match. Gandaki posted 60-9 in their allotted 20 overs before Sudurpashchim raced to 63-1 with 54 balls to spare.

Sudurpashchim opener Bindu Rawal scored an unbeaten 46 runs to lead her team to victory. Sudurpashchim lost Yashoda Bist (two) with 15 runs on the board before Rawal and Shova Rokaya added 48 runs for the unbroken second wicket. Rawal dominated the partnership hitting eight boundaries in her 43-ball knock, while Rokaya remained unbeaten on eight. Niruta GT took a wicket for Gandaki.

Earlier, Seema KC was the lone Gandaki batter who scored in double figures. She hit two fours in her 31-ball 13, while Srijana Poudel and skipper Shristi Jaisi contributed nine each. Player-of-the-match Manisha Chaudhary was the pick of the Sudurpashchim bowlers taking 4-14 from four overs, while Ishwori Bist and Sneha Mahara grabbed one wicket each.

In another match, Province-I defeated Lumbini Province by nine runs in a match which was reduced to nine-over-a-side due to heavy fog. Province-I posted 59-4 before restricting Lumbini to 50-7.

Province-I opener Kajal Shrestha top scored with 21 off 18 balls.

Skipper Rubina Chhetry struck three fours in her 13-ball 17, while- Apsari Began contributed 12. Other batters failed to score in double figures for Province-I. Kritika Marasini, Saraswati Pun and Bivasna BC grabbed one wicket each for Lumbini.

In reply, opener Laxmi Chaudhary fought the lonely battle and scored a quick fire 31 off 17 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six. But that was not enough for Lumbini to avert the loss as other batters faltered. Skipper Saraswati GM was the next best at six runs. Player-of-the-match Sangita Rai was the pick of the Province-I bowlers taking 3-4 from two overs, while Sabnam Rai, Jyoti Danwar and skipper Rubina Chhetry grabbed one wicket each.

With their second straight victory, Province-I moved to the top of the Group B table with four points, while Lumbini and Madhesh Province have two points each. Karnali Province faced defeats in both matches. In Group A, Nepal APF Club are at the top on superior net run rate after being tied on four points with Sudurpashchim Province.

Bagmati and Gandaki are yet to open their accounts.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.