Captain Sita Rana Magar cracked an unbeaten half century for Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club as they beat Sudurpaschim Province by 15 runs to register second victory in a row in the Lalitpur Mayor Women’s Cricket Championship at the TU Ground in Kirtipur on Friday.

Sent in to bat first, Rana Magar and Indu Barma shared an 80-run stand for the second wicket as APF posted 121-2 in the allotted 20-over. Chasing the target, Kabita Kunwar’s half century went in vain for Sudurpaschim as they got restricted to 106-6.

The second victory from as many games puts APF, who defeated Madhesh Province by 10 wickets on Thursday, on top of the standing with four points. Sudurpaschim, who beat hosts Lalitpur Mayor’s XI by 51 runs on Thursday, have two points from as many games.

After losing their opener Jyoti Pandey on 13 runs made off 22 balls, the pair of Rana Magar and Barma created the foundation for a challenging total. The player-of-the-match Rana Magar played an unconquered innings, making a 59-ball 52, studded with seven hits to the fence.

Barma scored a 37-ball 45 that included five hits to the boundary. She was caught by Kabita Joshi off a delivery bowled by Ishwori Bist in the last over. Mamta Chaudhary scored an unbeaten three runs.

Bista was the only Sudurpaschim player to take a wicket. She gave away 29 runs in her four-over spell.

Chasing the target, Sudurpaschim kept losing wickets at regular intervals, despite a half century by opener Kabita Kunwar. She cracked 51 off 60 balls, comprising three boundaries and two sixes before being stumped by wicketkeeper Pandey off a Rana Magar’s delivery. Kabita Joshi, coming in to bat at number six, remained unbeaten on 17, made of 26 balls. Samjhana Khadka was the other player to touch a double-digit score, an 18-ball 17.

APF’s Suman Bist claimed two wickets while Rana Magar and Barma shared a wicket each.

Koshi Province off to winnings start

National captain Rubina Chhetry-led Koshi Province made a winning start with a seven-wicket win over Lalitpur Mayor’s XI, inflicting a second defeat on the home team.

Lalitpur, who chose to bat first, were bowled out for 65 runs off 16.5 overs. Province 1 raced to an easy victory in 12 overs, scoring 66-3.

Only two batters of Lalitpur managed to reach double digit scores with opener Laxmi Chaudhary contributing 23 runs off 32 balls and tailender Manish Upadhayay remaining not out on 10 runs off eight balls.

Nishal Shah of Koshi claimed three wickets conceding 11 runs in her four-over spell and won the player-of-the-match award. Apsari Begam took two wickets.

Chasing the target, Begam contributed an unbeaten 29 runs off 32 balls, the highest of the innings, which included four boundary hits. Captain Chhetry hit an 18-ball 13.

Asmina Karmacharya of Lalitpur picked up two wickets. She gave away 26 runs in her four-overs of bowling.

Madhesh will next play against Sudurpaschim and APF will take on Koshi Province in Saturday’s fixtures.