Koshi set up final clash with APF

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 29: Koshi Province defeated Madhesh Province by 62 runs to set up the title showdown with APF Club at the Lalitpur Mayor’s Cup Women’s T20 Championship on Tuesday. 

APF outplayed Lumbini Province by 37 runs to remain unbeaten league round. The four wins out of four league matches helped APF top the table with eight points. Koshi moved up to the second position with six points from three wins and one loss. 

In the first match played at TU Cricket Ground, APF batted first to post 110 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. Host Lalitpur Mayor’s XI conceded its fourth defeat in a row after being restricted to 73/8 in 20 overs. 

Rajmati Airee and Bindu Budha picked two wickets apiece while Indu Barma, Sita Rana Magar and Sushma Shrestha also pocketed a wicket each. Sony Pakhrin (15), Laxmi Chaudhary (10) and Seemana KC (10) were the only double-figure scorers for Lalitpur. 

Earlier, APF rode on the not-out 52-ball 41 of Airee to collect a challenging total. Airee hit four fences in her player of the match performance. Skipper Magar (16-ball 19) and Binu Budha (16-ball 12) chipped in with a two-digit score for the league leader. Seemana KC and Shristi Jaisi dismissed two batters of APF. 

In the second match, Koshi posted 105 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs after being put on to bat first. Captain Rubina Chhetry contributed top with 38-ball 39. Kajal Shrestha chipped in with a 28-ball 22 to put up a 40-run first-wicket partnership with her captain. 

Apsari Begam (32-ball 19) and Smirti Katuwal (12-ball 10) were the other two-digit scorers for Koshi. 

Santoshi Chaudhary, Amiran Nisha and Amisha Patel each sent two batters to the pavilion. 

Madhesh, in reply, faltered to 43/9 in 20 overs. 

Captain Chhetry, Alisha Khadiya and Nisha Shah picked two wickets each to stop Madhesh. Saraswati Kumari (10) was the only double-figure scorer for Madhesh.