Nepal Police Club (NPC) made a flying start to their women’s Twenty20 tournament under the Ninth National Games in Pokhara defeating Karnali Province by 63 runs under D/L method while the game between Province 1 and Lumbini Province was abandoned due to wet pitch.

Police elected to bat first in the rain-hit opening match that was reduced to 16-over and posted 110-6. As the Police were seemingly heading to a mammoth victory, Karnali’s run chase was again interrupted by rain with 17-7 on board at 10.2 overs and the departmental team were announced the winners on D/L method.

Police openers Kajal Shrestha and Kabita Gurung contributed 16 runs apiece while Samjhana Khadka scored 25 runs, the highest of the innings. Shrestha hit ball-a-run 16 comprising two fences. Kunwar hit three fences in her 14-ball knock.

Khadka, who came to bat at number three, struck two fences in her 21-ball knock. Rewati Dhami was the other remarkable scorer for Police contributing 14 off 16. Kabinta Joshi was unbeaten on eight and captain Rubina Chhetry on nine runs, respectively.

Karnali bowler Anju Gurung claimed three wickets while Bina Thapa and Anjila Chhetri picked one wicket each. Gurung gave away 24 runs in her four-over spell.

Karnali made a poor start to their run chase and never seemed to be in the hunt for a target. They had lost six wickets for just four runs on board. Dikshya Purni, the highest scorer for Karnali, hit 7 off 14 and remained unbeaten.

The second match between Province 1 and Lumbini was abandoned without a toss due to downpour and the two sides shared a point each.

The women’s cricket began on Monday, five days before the National Games will officially kick off on October 14. The men’s cricket already concluded with the Nepal Police Club clinching gold, defeating the Tribhuvan Army Club in the final on September 16.

APF will vie against Bagmati Province in the early kickoff on Tuesday and Sudurpaschim Province will meet hosts Gandaki Province in the late fixture. The tournament features nine teams including seven provincial and two departmental sides.