Unbeaten APF, host Sudurpashchim into Super 4 of PM Women’s Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 19: The Armed Police Force (APF) Club defeated Sudurpashchim Province in the first of the two games of the PM Women’s Cup on Saturday at the Dhangadhi-based Fapla Cricket Ground to stay as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

APF defeated Sudurpashchim by 59 runs. APF batted first after Sudurpashchim’s invitation and posted a total of 126/2 in the game reduced to 18-over each. Skipper Indu Barma’s 58 off 45 was supported by Mamta Chaudhary, who stayed not out at 36 off 49 with Kabita Joshi (13 off 9).

In response, Sudurpashchim batted for 16 overs but could only add 67/6, mostly thanks to opener Kabita Kunwar’s 29 off 34. None of the other Sudur batters scored in double figures.

Barma and Joshi bagged two wickets each while Sabnam Rai took one for APF.

APF now has 7 points from four games as their second game was cancelled due to bad weather and the teams shared a point each. Sudur, who had three in three wins, lost the fourth game and now is in second position with six points; Lumbini is in third in the group of five with five points from four games.

The group stage games of Group A – APF, Sudur, Lumbini, Gandaki and Karnali – ended on Saturday and APF and Sudur progressed to Super 4 as the Top 2 teams. 

Lumbini, the team to share points with APF due to N/R, registered their second win defeating Karnali Province in the second game on Saturday. Karnali and Gandaki did not win a single game in the tournament.

Winning the toss and batting first, Lumbini posted the same target as APF did to Sudur: 127 runs. But Lumbini lost six more wickets and batted two more overs than Sudur.

Opener Ranju Shrestha was the hero for Lumbini as she stayed not out at 51 off 59 while eight batters perished without scoring in double digits. Lumbini also benefitted from 39 runs as extras by Karnali.

Anju Gurung bagged three wickets and Rama Budhathoki took two for Karnali. However, Karnali got bundled out at 55 runs in 13 overs; Rama Budhathoki was the only batter for Karnali to score in double digits (20 off 31). 

Saraswati Pun took four wickets and gave only 11 runs in her four-over spell as Lumbini dominated with the ball.

The games of Group B – Bagmati, Koshi, Madhes and Tribhuvan Army Club – begin on Sunday with two fixtures – Koshi vs Army and Bagmati vs Madhes.