DANG, DECEMBER 28

Nepal APF Club defeated Lumbini Province by 61 runs to register their third straight victory in the Sagarmatha Cement PM Women’s National Cricket League here today.

Electing to bat first, the departmental side posted 122-4 in their allotted 20 overs before restricting Lumbini to 61-7. With their third victory in Group A, APF topped the table with six points, while Lumbini finished second with four.

Both the teams had already advanced to the semi-finals with two wins each. APF openers Jyoti Pandey and Rajmati Airee made a flying start after skipper Sita Rana Magar won the toss and chose to take the first strike. Pandey dominated the 44-run opening partnership which came off 50 balls before Airee (11) was bowled by Lumbini skipper Nary Thapa.

Pandey and Indu Barma then added 52 runs for the second wicket taking the team total past three figures before they were dismissed in the space of three balls.

Pandey top scored with 49 off 54 balls hitting a four, while Barma struck four boundaries in her 30-ball 28.

Sarita Magar (10) and Sonu Khadka (two) remained unbeaten after Mamta Chaudhary (four) fell cheaply. Lumbini skipper Thapa took 2-26 from four overs, while Saraswati Pun and Kritika Marasini claimed one wicket each.

In reply, only two Lumbini batters could score in double figures as APF bowlers ran havoc. Laxmi Chaudhary (11) top scored for the team, while Saraswati Pun contributed 10.

The 24-run partnership between Saraswati GM (seven) and Chaudhary for the fourth wicket was the highest in the Lumbini innings.

Karuna Bhandari returned with the figures of 3-16 from four overs, while Sonu Khadka and Rekha Rawal claimed one wicket each for APF. Jyoti Pandey of APF was named the player of the match.

In another Group A match, Province-2 thrashed Karnali by 143 runs for consolation victory. In a match between the two already eliminated teams, Province-2 posted 165-3 in 20 overs before Karnali managed 22-9 — their lowest total in the event. They were all out for 31 against APF and they scored 34-6 in the second match —which was reduced to 13-over-a-side against Lumbini.

Province-2 opener Anuradha Chaudhary carried the bat remaining unbeaten on 69 off 60 balls that included six boundaries, while her opening partner Sobha Aale struck two fours in her 24-ball 23. The duo made a flying start adding 66 runs in 7.2 overs. After Santoshi Chaudhary (seven) fell cheaply, player-of-the-match Chaudhary and Bimala Magar shared the 74-run partnership for the third wicket. Magar scored 21 off 25 balls with the help of three boundaries.

Province-2 got 43 runs from sundries that included 30 wides and eight no balls. Nisha Parajuli took 2-16, while Sujata Bogati claimed one wicket for Karnali.

In reply, none of the Karnali batters was able to score in double figures for the third straight match. Opener Trisana Bishwokarma (seven) was the top contributor in the match, while six batters failed to open their accounts.