Queens bounce back; Titans triumph
Kathmandu, October 17
Kat Queens Kathmandu defeated Pokhara Paltan by 82 runs in the Women’s Champions League Twenty20 Cricket Tournament here today.
Queens, who faced a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Chitwan Rhinos in the opening match yesterday, posted 152-5 in their allotted 20 overs riding on brilliant half century from skipper Rubina Chhetri Belbashi. In reply, the Paltan were packed for a paltry 70 runs in 16.5 overs at the Tribhuvan University Stadium grounds which has been shortened to 50 yards for the tournament.
Queens lost openers Rashmi Chaulagain (two) and Shobha Ale (12) in the space of two runs to be 22-2 in 2.2 overs before Roma Thapa and skipper Belbashi revived the innings with a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. The Queens then lost three quick wickets to be 91-5 but Belbashi stood firm at one end and she combined with Ishwori Bist to add 61 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership.
Belbashi struck 14 boundaries and two sixes in her unbeaten 67-ball 83, while Roma Thapa was the second best contributor with 19 runs that included three boundaries. Bist remained unbeaten on 10 off 17 balls. Anuradha Chaudhary was the pick of the Paltan bowlers taking 4-28, while Kabita Kunwar grabbed one wicket.
In reply, the Paltan made a positive start with openers Sita Rana Magar and Ruby Poddar putting up 31 runs inside six overs before they fell in the space of three runs triggering a collapse. Paltan lost three more wickets for six runs to be 42-5. It soon became 58-9 and the innings folded for 70 runs. The Paltan batters were in such a hurry that the team lost five wickets to run out.
Only two players were able to score in double figures.
Skipper Sita Rana Magar struck three fours in her 13- ball 17, while Bindu Rawal scored 13 off 29 balls. Four batters even failed to open their accounts. Saraswoti Kumari (2-5) and Apsari Begam (2-8) shared four wickets between them, while Laxmi Saud grabbed one wicket for the Queens. The Queens skipper Belbashi was named the player of the match.
In another match, Biratnagar Titans beat Lalitpur Falcons by four wickets. Batting first, the Falcons posted 122-7 in 20 overs before the Titans raced to 123-6 with 24 balls to spare.
The Falcons made a poor start and were struggling at 47-5 in 11 overs. Mamta Chaudhary and Karuna Bhandari shared a 40-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Kriti Sen and Samjhana Khadka added 26 runs for the unbroken eighth wicket to help the team post a fighting score.
Chaudhary top scored with 24-ball 28 that included three boundaries, while Bhandari struck one each four and six in her 18-ball 21. Sen and Khadka remained unbeaten on 13 runs each. Both batters faced 11 balls and hit one boundary apiece. Sabnam Rai and Arati Bidari took one wicket each for Titans, while five Falcons batters were run out.
In reply, Jyoti Pandey scored a brilliant half century to lead Titans to easy victory. The opener top scored in the match with 65 off just 43 balls hitting 10 boundaries and a six.
Another opener Sonu Khadka struck two boundaries and a six in her 26-ball 24. The openers set the foundation for the victory with the partnership of 83 runs in nine overs. Asmina Karmacharya (12) was the other batter who contributed in double figures.
Samjhana Khadka took 2-9 and Karuna Bhandari claimed one wicket, while the Falcons affected three run outs.
A total of five city-based franchise teams are taking part in the nine-day tournament organised by Queens Event Management Pvt Ltd. Top two teams will receive Rs 700,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively. The player of the series will get TVS scooter and Rs 50,000, while best bowler and batter will earn Rs 25,000 each. Also, the player of the match will get Rs 5,000.
