Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club entered the final after a third straight victory, defeating national captain Rubina Chhetry-led Koshi Province by seven wickets in the Lalitpur Mayor Women's Cricket Championship at the TU ground in Kirtipur.

Opting to bat first, Koshi were restricted to 87-5 in the allotted 20 overs before APF chased down the target in 18.1 overs scoring 88-3.

Their third victory meant APF entered the final with six points with a match in hand in the five-team tournament. Koshi have two points with a win and a defeat after two games in the event that sends the top two sides into the final.

Captain Sita Rana Magar inspired the departmental giants to victory with an allround performance. She claimed three wickets while bowling and scored 19 runs during the run chase.

Openers Kajal Shrestha and Chhetry, and Apsari Begam were the only players to make notable contributions with the bat for Koshi. Shrestha scored 29 runs off 41 balls, the highest of the innings, studded with a boundary and a six. She was stumped by wicketkeeper Jyoti Pandey off Rana Magar's delivery.

Captain Chhetry contributed a 34-ball 24 that included five hits to the fence. She was bowled by Rana Magar. Begam contributed 22 runs off 36 balls before she was stumped by Pandey off an Indu Barma's delivery. Smriti Katuwal was the only other batter to score for Koshi with eight runs against her name.

Rana Magar, named player-of-the-match for the third game in a row, gave away only 11 runs in her four-over spell. Indu Barma claimed one wicket.

Chasing the target, Mamta Chaudhary contributed an unbeaten 21 runs, facing 28 deliveries that included a hit to the fence. Opener Rana Magar hit a 20-ball 19 studded with three hits to the boundary. She was caught by Apsari Begam off a Alisha Khadiya's delivery. Her opening partner Pandey contributed a 10-ball 11 before being caught and bowled by Chhetry.

Indu Barma was the other major contributor for APF, scoring 18 runs off 29 balls that included two boundaries. She was bowled by Nisha Shah.

Sudurpaschim clinch second victory

In the earlier fixture, Sudurpaschim Province scored a convincing seven-wicket win over Madhesh Province to secure their second victory in three matches and inched closer to the final.

They have four points and they could be assured of a final berth if they defeat Koshi in their next game on Monday. Madhesh, yet to open their scoring, are languishing at the bottom of the table after two games.

Opting to bat first, Madhesh opener Alisha Yadav and lower order batter Saraswati Kumari only managed to touch double digit scores with both contributing 15 runs each. Sana Praveen scored nine runs.

Sudurpaschim bowler Laxmi Saud grabbed three wickets while Samjhana Khadka and Ritu Kanoujiya picked up two wickets each.

In the run chase, Kanoujiya contributed an unbeaten 21 runs off 27 deliveries, the highest of the innings. The player-of-the-match Kanoujiya hit two boundaries.

Rubi Poddar scored an unbeaten 14 runs off 11 balls while captain Bindu Rawal scored a 17-ball 10.

Madhesh players Saraswati Kumari, Santoshi Chaudhary and Anuradha Chaudary picked up a wicket each.