Province-1 enter semi-finals, Bagmati record first victory

DANG, DECEMBER 30

Province-1 recorded their second straight victory to make it to the semi-finals, while Bagmati opened their accounts in the Sagarmatha Cement PM Cup Women’s National Cricket Tournament here today.

Bagmati’s Suman Khatiwada plays a shot against Gandaki during their Sagarmatha Cemen PM Cup Women’s National Cricket Tournament match in Lamahi, Dang on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Photo: THT

In the Group B matches played at the Deukhuri International Stadium in Lamahi, Province-1 beat Sudurpashchim Province by five wickets, while Bagmati bounced back after the opening match loss and beat Gandaki by 65 runs.

After the day’s results, Province-1 are at the top the table with four points, while Bagmati and Sudurpashchim have two apiece and they will face each other on Thursday to decide the second team in the last four from the group. Gandaki, who suffered their second straight loss, are out of the race and will play against Province-1 tomorrow. Nepal APF Club and Lumbini Province have already advanced to the last four from Group A.

In the first match of the day which was reduced to 16-overa-side due to adverse weather conditions, Sudurpashchim scored 53-3 before Province-1 reached 54-5 with five balls to spare. Province-1 skipper Rubina Chhetry was the lone batter to score in double figures for but that was enough for the team to record their second consecutive victory. Chhetry, who is also the national team captain, scored run-a-ball 12 that included a six.

Apsari Begam was the next best contributor with nine runs, while Ngima Tamang remained unbeaten on seven.

Deepa Jora took two wickets for Sudurpashchim, while Kabita Kunwar and Kabita Joshi grabbed one each.

Earlier, Kabita Joshi top scored for Sudurpashchim with 14 off 17 balls that included a four, while others failed to score in double figures. Laxmi Saud remained unbeaten on nine, while opener Rewati Dhami contributed eight. Sangita Rai was the pick of the Province-1 bowlers taking 3-10 and that also earned her the player-of-the-match award.

Sabnam Rai grabbed 2-14, while skipper Rubina Chhetri and Ngima Tamang claimed one wicket each.

In another match, Bagmati posted 153-4 in their allotted 20 overs before restricting Gandaki to 88-5. Bagmati made a flying start with openers Kanchan Shrestha and Binda Katwal putting up 76 in 10 overs before the former was run out for 29-ball 27 that included a four. Katwal and Suman Khatiwada then shared a 53-run partnership for the second wicket. Katal top scored for the team with 38 off 58 balls hitting three boundaries, while Khatiwada struck four fours in her 26-ball 31, while skipper Asmina Karmacharya was run out for eight in the last ball of the innings. Aarati Bidari remained unbeaten on 10 off six balls that included two boundaries.

Alisha Lamichhane took two wickets for Gandaki.

In reply, Sristi Poudel and Shila Chhetri added 60 runs for the third wicket but they failed to avert the team’s defeat. Poudel scored 44-ball 30 with the help of two fours, while skipper Chhetri hit a four in her 50-ball 26. Bagmati skipper Asmina Karmacharya, player of the match Suman Khatiwada, Aarati Bidari and Nisha Tamang took one wicket each.

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