APF, Eastern earn victories

Kathmandu, July 23

Departmental side Nepal Armed Police Force Club and Eastern Development Region registered victories on the opening day of the National Women’s Cricket Selection Tournament here at the TU Stadium on Saturday.

Nepal APF Club defeated Central Development Region by six wickets, while Eastern beat Western Development Region by nine wickets. In day’s first match which was reduced to 16-over-a-side due to wet outfield, Central made a paltry 39-8 before Nepal APF raced to 40-4 in 8.1 overs.

Nepal APF wicketkeeper Jyoti Pandey top scored with 16 off 20 balls that included two boundaries. Skipper Binu Budhmagar and Ritu Kanojiya remained unbeaten on nine and eight runs respectively. Roji Kedari claimed two wickets, while Asmina Karmacharya took one for the Central.

Earlier, only skipper Sobha Ale (12) and Sarada Wagle (10) scored in double figures for Central Region. Karuna Bhandari, Sarita Magar and Neera Rajopadhyaya claimed two wickets each, while Ritu Kanojiya claimed one for APF. APF’s Sarita Magar, who took two wickets and scored two runs, was named the player-of-the-match.

In another match, Western were bowled out for 38 runs in 18.2 overs before Eastern Region reached 39-1 in eight overs. Opener Barsa Rana top scored for Western with 16 off 32 balls hitting two wickets, while Sarswati Pun (11) was the another batter who contributed in double figures. Player-of-the-match Santoshi Chaudhary was the pick of the Eastern bowlers and she returned with the figures of 4-4 from three overs, while Rubina Chhetri took 2-5 and Kabita Gautam claimed 2-9. Saraswati Chaudhary and Sabnam Rai also grabbed a wicket each.

In reply, opener Kajol Shrestha and Rashmi Sharma added 27 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership after Anuradha Chaudhary (two) fell cheaply. Wicketkeeper Shrestha hit a four in her 24-ball 21, while Sharma scored 13 off 14 balls that included a boundary as the duo guided Eastern Region home with ease. Seema Thapa of Western claimed the only wicket that fell in the innings.