Sudurpaschim Province and Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club were off to winning starts in the Lalitpur Mayor Twenty20 Women’s Championship that kicked off on Thursday at the TU Ground in Kirtipur.

In the opening match, Sudurpaschim saw off the challenge of hosts Lalitpur Mayor’s XI by 51 runs and departmental giants APF registered a thumping 10-wicket victory over Madhesh Province.

In the earlier fixture, Sudurpaschim opted to bat first and posted 137-3 in their allotted 20 overs on the back of an unbeaten half century by Samjhana Khadka. Chasing the target, Lalitpur could only manage to reach 86-7.

Player-of-the-match Khadka, who came in to bat at number three, played an unconquered knock of 51 runs off 45 balls that included six hits to the fence. Opener and captain Bindu Rawal scored a 14-ball 18 studded with four hits to the fence before she was bowled by Sony Pakhrin. Her opening partner Rubi Poddar hit a 33-ball 28, comprising four boundary hits.

Kabita Joshi played an unbeaten innings of 27 runs off 28 balls. She slammed two fours and a six.

Kritika Marasini of Lalitpur pocketed two wickets and Pakhrin picked one.

Chasing the target, Lalitpur had their five batters run out, including opener Laxmi Chaudhary, the highest scorer of the innings, who contributed 25 runs off 28 balls. Her opening partner Kanchan Shrestha scored a 32-ball 16. Helisha Gurung was the other batter for Lalitpur to touch a double digit score, making a 23-ball 19.

Sudurpaschim bowler Ritu Kanaujiya picked up two wickets in her four-over spell, conceding 12 runs.

In the later fixture, inviting Madhesh to bat first, APF bowled them out for a paltry 58-run total.

APF openers Jyoti Pandey and Sita Rana Magar had an unbeaten 61 run partnership, taking their team to victory in only 7.3 overs.

Sana Praveen, who came in to bat at number three, was the only Madhesh Province batter to reach a double digit score, making 25 runs off 45 balls. She hit two boundaries before being trapped lbw by Sonu Khadka. Seema Kunwar was the second-highest scorer, contributing eight runs for Madhesh.

APF’s Khadka was the pick of their bowling, claiming four wickets in her 2.4 overs, conceding only nine runs. Captain Rana Magar claimed three wickets.

Chasing the target, Rana Magar scored 45 runs off 36 balls, studded with nine hits to the fence. Jyoti Pandey hit a 10-ball 8. Rana Magar was declared the player-of-the-match.

APF will next play against Sudurpaschim and Lalitpur will take on Province 1 on Friday.