Army starts Women's PM Cup with 10-wkt win over Madhes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 20: The Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) started their PM Women’s Cup 2025 campaign with a humble win over Madhes Province at the Dhangadhi-based Fapla Cricket Stadium on Sunday. 

After the conclusion of 10 group games between the five teams of Group A on Saturday, four Group B teams – TAC, Madhes, Koshi and Bagmati – started the tournament on Sunday. Koshi and Bagmati confronted in the first game of January 19 with the eastern province emerging victorious.

The Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Sudurpashchim Province, the top two teams from Group A, are waiting for the Top 2 teams from Group B in the Super 4 that begins on January 23.

TAC and Koshi have moved forward to the Top 2 spot with a win in their respective first games; however, the two games saw low scores alongside a dozen ducks, including 

Firstly, Koshi and Bagmati started late as the toss was delayed due to bad weather. With the day's first game reduced to 13-over each, Bagmati won the toss and fielded first. 

Led by Rubina Chhetry, Koshi posted 63/7 in 13 overs. Opener Chhetry (15 off 13) was the first wicket to fall in 3.5 overs getting caught. In-at-five Bimala Malaha staying not out at 19 off 23 was the only other supportive score for Koshi as three batters got out for a duck. 

Manisha Upadhyaya led Bagmati’s attack with the ball bagging a four-wicket haul in her three-over spell; she bowled one maiden over and gave only seven runs. 

Opener Sabika Yadav gave hope for Bagmati until she batted, but getting bowled by Jyoti Danwar as her second victim in 8.6 overs restricted the team to 39/5. 

Only two Bagmati batters were out for a duck while in-at-six Bipisha Shahi stayed not out at 12 off 12; last-wicket Pooja Saud got run-out for a diamond duck. But the fall of wickets on the other end got Bagmati all out with 11 runs requiring off five balls.

Alongside Danwar, Chhetry and Sangita Rai bagged two wickets each for Koshi.

On the other hand, with 20 overs to play, Madhes, winning the toss and batting first, got all out for 25 runs in 15.2 overs. Madhes batting order saw seven ducks, of which five were golden ducks.

The highest score for Madhes was by in-at-nine Bhumi Singh (10 off 21), it was followed by seven runs as Extras by Army bowlers. Ashma Pulami Magar, debutant for Army, took two wickets in the first two deliveries of the 16th over to bundle Madhes at the fifth-ever low score of 10 editions of the PM Women’s Cup.

Ashma bagged three wickets in total in her 1.2 overs giving only four runs; a performance that awarded her the Player of the Match.

“We were aiming to bundle out Madhes for a paltry, and we succeeded,” Ashma said after receiving the award.

“Our team (Army) has been training for four months. Players have improved physically as well. The environment here is great. We aim for a win in every game,” added Ashma, who played for Lumbini earlier. 

Earlier, Madhes’ lowest score was 40 runs when they got all out in 19.2 overs by APF in Kirtipur on December 22, 2023. 

Manisha Chaudhary and Laxmi Saud also bagged two consecutive wickets in the second and sixth overs of the game respectively; of them, three batters returned to the pavilion for golden ducks.

Army chased the low target in 2.5 overs sparing 103 deliveries and 10 wickets. Opening duo – Samjhana Khadka and Anjali Bishwakarma – stayed not out at 22 off 10 and 4 off 7 respectively.

Army will now face Bagmati on Monday and the fixture will be followed by Koshi vs Madhes.