Kathmandu, March 23
Sudurpashchim Province and APF Club recorded victories in the opening day matches of the Lalitpur Mayor Women's Championship here at the TU Stadium today.
Sudurpashchim defeated Lalitpur Mayor's XI by 51 runs in the inaugural match. Batting first, Sudurpashchim posted 137-3 in their allotted 20 overs, while Lalitpur Mayor's XI managed 86-7.
Sudurpashchim openers Bindu Rawal and Rubi Poddar made a mediocre start after they elected to bat. They lost skipper Rawal for 14-ball 18 that included four boundaries in the fourth over. Wicketkeeper-batter Poddar and Samjhana Khadka then added 47 runs for the second wicket before Kritika Marasini struck twice to dismiss Poddar and Rewati Dhami in two consecutive balls to reduce them to 70-3.
Poddar struck four boundaries in her 33-ball 28.
Khadka and Kabita Joshi then shared a 67-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wickets to help the team post a mammoth total. Player-ofthe-match Khadka remained unbeaten on 51 off 45 balls with the help of six boundaries, while Joshi struck two fours and a six in her 28-ball 27 not out. Marasini returnedwith 2-24, while Sony Pakhrin grabbed one wicket for Lalitpur Mayor's XI.
In reply, Lalitpur Mayor's XI openers Laxmi Chaudhary and Kanchan Shrestha put up 40 runs in 9.2 overs. Shrestha (16) was the first to depart, caught by Poddar off the bowling of Ritu Kanoujiya, while Sony Pakhrin (three) departed five runs later. Chaudhary andHelisha Gurung added 26 runs for the third wicket. Chaudhary top scored with 25 off 38 balls hitting two fours, while Gurung struck two boundaries in her 24-ball 19. Other batters failed to contribute in double figures.
Kanoujiya grabbed 2-12 from four overs, while Sudurpashchim fielders affected five run-outs in the match.
In another match, APF thrashed Madhesh Province by 10 wickets. The departmental team bowled Madhesh out for a paltry 58 runs in 19.4 overs before APF openers Jyoti Pandey and Sita Rana Magar raced to 61-0 in 7.3 overs.
Skipper Rana Magar dominated the partnership scoring an unbeaten 45 off 36 balls with the help of nine boundaries, while Pandey struck a four in her 10-ball eight not out. Earlier, Sonu Khadka (4-9) and player-of-the-match Rana Magar (3-7) wrecked havoc in Madhesh innings.
Only Sana Praveen could score in double figures for Madhesh hitting two fours in her 45-ball 25. Seema Kunwar was the next best at eight.
Rekha Rawal, Nary Thapa and Indu Barma grabbed one wicket each for APF. A total of five teams are taking part in the tournament organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal under the auspices of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
