Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Nepal Police Club will lock horns in the summit clash of the women’s T20 cricket of the Ninth National Games after both the departmental teams advanced following their semi-finals victories in Pokhara on Monday.

APF Club defeated Lumbini Province by 67 runs in the first semi-final match.

Jyoti Pandey scored an unbeaten half-century to guide APF to 129-3 before Nary Thapa’s 4 for 7 helped Sita Rana Magar’s side restrict their opponents to just 62 runs.

Lumbini were patient in the start but APF bowler Thapa showed no mercy as she rattled the Lumbini batting order with her ruthless pace soon after taking charge of the bowling in the seventh over.

The former national team captain quickly got to work, removing opener Laxmi Chaudhary for just 5 runs in the fifth ball of her first over.

Indu Barma clean bowled Chaudhary’s opening partner Ashma Pulami Magar (6) in the next over to cause more damage to Lumbini.

But there was no stopping Thapa on the field. Thapa next sent Madhu DC (5), captain Saraswati Ganga Magar (2) and Jigyasha Thapa (0) as Lumbini were reeling at 5-36 after the 11th over.

Sushmita Bajgain top scored for Lumbini with 12 off 23 balls that also included a boundary but she too fell flat when Rekha Rawal had her caught by Roma Thapa in the 14.4 overs.

Lumbini never recovered and surrendered the game after Sushma Shrestha and Suman Bist polished off the tail.

Earlier, sent to bat first after losing the toss, opener Pandey scored 69 runs facing 61 deliveries to lay the foundation for victory.

Rana Magar contributed 11 before Maneesha Rana had her caught by Laxmi in the first delivery of the fourth over.

Indu Barma (6) was caught behind off Kritika Marasaini. Mamta Chaudhary (16) also fell victim to Marasaini’s spin. Roma Thapa was not out for 12.

The win also extended APF’s winning streak to five matches in as many games in the tournament.

In the second semi-final, Kajal Shrestha shone with the bat as Police saw off Bagmati Province by 36 runs.

Sent to bat first after losing the toss, opener Shrestha cracked 46 runs off 51 balls that featured five fours as Police posted 123-4 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Shrestha also put on a 70-run stand with her opening partner Kabita Kunwar, who made 26.

But Bagmati’s Khusi Dongol broke the partnership removing Kunwar in the 12.4 overs.

Samjhana Khadka followed for a duck in the next ball before Shrestha too departed, caught behind off Suman Khatiwada in the 16th over. But the opener had already done her part.

Captain Rubina Chhetry (not out 17) and Kabita Joshi (not out 15) led the Police batting late in the innings.

In reply, Kunwar returned the match figures of 3-6 as Bagmati were restricted to 87-8. The medium pacer trapped opener Kanchan Shrestha for a duck and bowled out captain Karmacharya (18) and Bipisha Shahi (4).

Ishori Bist took 2-20, that included the scalps of opener Ashmita Kharel (3) and Anisha Majhakoti (4).

When Binda Kandel departed for 5, Bagmati were already in trouble for 4-23.

Number five batter Khatiwada fought back with 23-ball 23 that included three fences but could not deal with the Police bowling attack for long as she was bowled by Chhetry in the last ball of the 12th over.

Sony Pakhrin was the next casualty, trapped leg in front by Sangita Rai.

Captain Karmacharya and Shahi also departed as Police made it to the last four in their first appearance at the National Games.

The third-place playoff and the final will take place on Tuesday.