A day after Nary Thapa became the first Nepali batswoman to score a century, two others hit a ton and three new records were set in the Senior Women’s National Cricket Tournament on Saturday. 

Rekha Rawal and Anjali Chand scored a century each to keep recordkeepers busy as Baitadi battered Pokhara by a massive 229 runs at the Engineering ground. 

With her unbeaten 131 runs Rawal became the highest scorer and the fastest century maker as she raced to 100 off 74 balls. Riding on two massive centuries—131 off 98 balls including 19 boundaries from opener Rawal and unbeaten 111 off 95 balls from Anjali Chand including 15 boundaries from Chand Baitadi posted a mammoth total of 362-1 in their allotted 40 overs. 

Rawal also shined with the ball with figures of 4-30 to send Pokhara packing for 133 runs in 31.2 overs. Janaki Bhatta grabbed three wickets, while Aasha Saki and Kabita Kunwar bagged one each.

Having come into the tournament well-prepared, the two century makers were pleased to play the 40-over format. 

“We have been playing for seven years now and it’s time we showed an improved performance,” said Rawal, who was a member of the junior team that won the ACC U-19 Women’s tournament in 2008.

“The tournament played with more overs has also helped us score more runs,” she added.

Chasing a massive target, Pokhara were off to a disastrous start as they were reduced to 16-4 in 8.3 overs. Skipper Aarati Bidari waged a lone battle scoring a half century in her desperate bid to get Pokhara back on the track. And the Pokhareli challenge ended with that the fall of Rawal’s as they were reduced to Pokhara to 121-7 in the 33rd over. 

Kathmandu too got off the mark with a win as they defeated Bhairahawa by three wickets in a low-scoring match at the TU ground. 

Electing to field, Kathmandu bowlers Kamala Rai and Sangeeta Gauchan scalped four and three wickets respectively to bowl Bhairahawa out for a paltry 66 in 25.4 overs. 

Prabina Khadka (16) was the only batswoman to reach the double figures as extras, at 30 runs, being the highest contributor to their total. 

Kathmandu did not have a good start either with openers Rai and Sandhya KC adding five and four runs respectively. Sangeeta Gauchan and Rabina Bhandari got duck out to put them in a scary situation of 22-4 in seven overs. 

Ashmin Karmacharya, the number seven batswoman, saved Kathmandu’s blushes with 17 runs to take them home in 14.1 overs with the loss of seven wickets. 

The win took Kathmandu to second place in Group B with two points from two matches. Bhairahawa also have two points but trail Kathmandu on run rate. Similarly, Armed Police Force (APF) continued their winning streak as they defeated Janakpur by two wickets at the Army ground in Bhaktapur. 

Sita Rana Magar’s four wickets helped APF bowl Janakpur out for 59 runs in 18.2 overs. APF chased down the target in 19 overs for the loss of eight wickets. Jyoti Pandey topscored with 17 runs for the departmental team, who now lead Group A with four points.