Itahari, January 21

Sudurpashchim Province won the title of the PM Cup Women's T20 National Cricket Tournament here at the Janata Cricket Park today.

Sudurpashchim defeated Province-I by six wickets in the final match. Batting first, Province-I posted 101-5 in their allotted 20 overs before Sudurpashchim reached 102-4 with one ball to spare.

Chasing a modest target, Sudurpashchim lost opener Kabita Kunwar (12) with just 15 runs on the board and Rubi Poddar (eight) also fell cheaply.

Sudurpashchim were reduced to 37-3 in 10.2 overs when skipper Bindu Rawal (seven) was bowled out by Hiranmayee Roy.

Samjhana Khadka then shared two important partnerships to lead the team to victory.

Khadka and Dolly Bhatta added 35 runs for the fourth wicket before she combined with Kabita Joshi to share a 30- run stand for the unbroken fifth wicket.

Player-of-the-match Khadka scored an unbeaten 27 off 33 balls hitting two boundaries, while Bhatta struck two fours and a six in her quick fire 16-ball 22. Joshi hit one each four and six in her 20-ball 19 not out. Sabnam Rai, skipper Rubina Chhetry, Sangita Rai and Hiranmayee Roy bagged one wicket each for Province-I.

Earlier Kajal Shrestha top scored for Province-I with 48 off 63 balls that included eight boundaries, while skipper Chhetry (14) and Apsari Begam (15) were the two other batters who scored in double figures. Province-I were nicely cruising towards challenging total and were 75-1 in 16 overs.

But they faltered and could add just 14 runs in the last four overs losing four wickets.

Manisha Chaudhary took 2-18 for Sudurpashchim, while Ritu Kanoujiya grabbed one. Champions Sudurpashchim received Rs 500,000 along with the trophy, while Province-I earned Rs 300,000.

Sudurpashchim's Kabita Kunwar, who scored 134 runs and took two wickets in the tournament, was adjudged the player of the series and best batter. She earned a total of Rs 50,000 for the two awards. Kunwar also received a scooter after she was selected as the future star.

The selection committee picked up Kunwar ahead of three other nominees - Bindu Rawal of Sudurpashchim, Asmina Karmacharya of Bagmati and Sangita Rai of Province-I. Kunwar's teammate Manisha Chaudhary, who took 11 wickets in five matches, was declared the best bowler and she earned Rs 20,000.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.