Lumbini Province and Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Sports Club earned resounding victories in the Prime Minister Cup Women's National twenty20 cricket tournament that kicked off in Lamahi, Dang, on Saturday.

Lumbini edged Province 2 by nine wickets while the departmental giants thrashed Karnali Province by 204 runs.

In the opening match, electing to bowl first, Lumbini restricted Province 2 at 77-7 and chased the target losing one wicket at 16.1. Opener Anuradha Chaudhary and Sana Prabin contributed equal 21 runs each for Province 2. Bimala Rana, who scored 10 runs, was the other player to contribute in double figures as they lost the remaining batters cheaply.

Lumbini's Sushmita Bhusal, named player-of-the-match, pocketed three wickets in her four-over spell conceding 10 runs.

In the run chase, openers Gita Gosai and Saraswati Ganga Magar created the base for the winning 53-run partnership for the first wicket. Magar scored 22 runs off 42 before she was bowled by Kabita Gautam while Gosai scored an unbeaten 23 facing 42 deliveries. Skipper Nary Thapa contributed a not out 15 runs.

In the late fixture, APF elected to bat first and ran riot over Karnali Province scoring 235-4 before restricting Karnali Province at 31 runs in 14.1 overs.

APF Captain Sita Rana Magar shone with bat scoring 68 off 59 before she was bowled out by Anju Gurung. Rana Magar played 97-run stand for the first wicket with Jyoti Pandey and 99-run stand for second with Sarita Magar.

Opener Rana Magar, also player-of-the-match, cracked eight boundaries before she was sent to the pavilion in the 17.4 over. Her opening partner Jyoti Pandey contributed 32 off 30. Sarita Magar scored an unbeaten 44 runs from 34 deliveries while Indu Barna contributed 22 runs.

Dikshya Puri of Karnali claimed two wickets while Nisha Parajuli and Anju Gurung had one wicket each.

Karnali, who got 15 extra runs, looked miserable in batting as none of their batters scored in double figures. Karuna Bhandari was the most successful bowler for APF claiming five wickets. She gave away two runs in her 3.1 over bowling with two maiden overs.

Lumbini will vie against Karnali and APF will take on Province 2 on Sunday.

The tournament features eight teams including seven provincial teams apart from APF. The participating teams are divided into two groups of four teams each. The top two finishers from each group after round robin league will enter semi-finals.