Armed Police Force Club women’s dominance continued in domestic cricket as they defeated Sudurpaschim Province by two runs in a thrilling final to win their fourth consecutive title at the Lalitpur Mayor Women’s T20 Championship at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

APF have now won all four editions of the championship. They had entered the tournament as the winners of the Prime Minister Cup Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament. APF have also terrorised the PM Cup winning six out of nine editions.

For Sudurpaschim, they have now fallen short in the title match for a third time against APF after also reaching the final in 2021 and 2022. Koshi had reached the final in 2023.

In fact, Sudurpaschim, who were chasing 153, almost ended APF’s stranglehold in the championship on Saturday when Kabita Joshi smashed three sixes in the 19th over to leave her side only needing six runs from the last over for a historic victory.

Kabita Joshi played an unbeaten innings of 67 runs and Laxmi Saud made 29 not out to take Sudurpaschim from 49-5 in the seventh over to 150-5 (101-run partnership) before the final over, and inch closer to their first title.

But the duo ran out of batteries when needed most as they could only manage three runs from the last over, thanks to a tight bowling from Rekha Rawal.

Joshi’s 45-ball knock featured seven boundaries and three sixes.

Captain Bindu Rawal contributed 19 off 17, while Sabitri Dhami made 12 off nine balls and Samjhana Khadka played 8-ball 10 for Sudurpaschim.

Karuna Bhandari took 2-20 including the wicket of dangerous Khadka who had scored two fifties in this tournament.

Earlier, APF opted to bat first and posted a big total of 155-4 with the help of half-centuries from openers Rajmati Airee and Sita Rana Magar.

Airee scored 50 runs off 46 balls hitting seven fours. Captain Rana Magar cracked eight fours in her 55-ball 74.

The opening duo also added 91 runs for the first wicket.

National team skipper added nine, Roma Thapa contributed six and Mamta Chaudhary made 10 not out to guide APF to a huge total.

Radhika Pujara, Bindu and Ritu Kanoujiya took one wicket apiece for Sudurpaschim.