Despite a brilliant half-century by Sita Rana Magar, Paltan failed to end their winless run which stretched to third match. They remain second from the bottom and are yet to open scoring in the standings unlike Rhinos who occupy top position with six points and cemented place for at least for a qualifier.

Paltan’s Magar hit 65 from 56 balls but received little support from other batters as the they managed to put on a mediocre 127 runs total for the loss of five wickets. Winning the toss and batting first, Paltan’s innings was built mainly around Magar’s total which included a six and seven boundaries.

The total would have been far less had Manju Bogati not added 24 runs towards the end of their innings. Kabita Kunwar also scored 15 runs. Kabita Gautam claimed two scalps for Rhinos.

In reply, Rhinos made a good start with openers Kajal Shrestha and Kanchan Shrestha stitching a 71-run partnership for the first wicket. Kanchan was bowled by Anjali Chand for 29 runs in the 11th over but Kajal and skipper Indu Barma continued piling runs for Rhinos.

The duo shared 47-run partnership for the second wicket before Barma, who contributed 24 runs, was bowled by Chand in the 17th over. Kajal was caught in the 18th over for 51. Chand took two wickets for Paltan.

Rhinos, who began the campaign with a five-wicket victory in the opening day fixture against Kat Queens Kathmandu had registered an 89-run win against Lalitpur Falcons on Friday. Paltan had gone down against Kat Queens Kathmandu by 82 runs before suffering a six-wicket defeat against Biratnagar Titans in their second match.

In another fixture at the same venue, a half-century by Roma Thapa ensured Kat Queens Kathmandu a 52-run victory against Biratnagar Titans, who succumbed to their first defeat. Thapa remained unbeaten at 53 as Queens won their second match of the competition defeating Biratnagar Titans by 52 runs. Queens lost opener Sobha Ale (2 runs) in the second over but Thapa and Rashmi Chaulagain added 76 run partnership for the second wicket. The partnership was finally broken when Chaulagain was run out in the 13th over for 34 runs. But Thapa and Rubina Chhetri put on another 60-run partnership remaining unbeaten to take the team’s total to 139-2. Thapa hit six fences in her 52 ball knock while Chhetri's 35 run include one six and three boundaries off 24 deliveries.
Titans used eight bowlers to break the two partnership but with little success. Dolly Bhatta picked one wicket for the Titans.

Queens made early inroads in defending their total picking the wickets of openers Jyoti Panday (4) and Sonu Khadka (5) cheaply. Laxmi Chaudhary scored a 50-ball 40 for Titans but with wickets falling regularly at the other end, Titans failed to mount a proper challenge and were eventually fell short by 52 runs. They finished on 87-5 with Dolly Bhatta also scoring 13 runs. First defeat to the Titans means they slump to third place from top with equal four points as of second placed Queens. Rhinos will vie with Biratnagar Titans while the Kat Queens Kathmandu will take on Lalitpur Falcons on Saturday. Falcons are yet to open their account in the points table. The team finishing on top of the table will automatically secure final spot while second and third place teams will vie in the playoff.