Province 1 and Province 2 won their respective matches of the Prime Minister Cup Women’s National Twenty20 cricket tournament at the covered hall ground on Saturday.

In a Group ‘B’ match reduced to five-over-a-side due to rain, Province 1 hammered Karnali Province by 10 wickets for their second consecutive victory. Batting first, Karnali made 23-1. Skipper Rubina Chhetri (12) and Kajol Shrestha (11) led the chase guiding the team to 26 runs in just 1.3 overs.

While the defeat has knocked Karnali out of the tournament, Province 1 go to the top of the table. Behind them are Province 2 who edged Province 3 by six runs. Province 1 lead the table on better net run rate.

Batting first, a gritty innings from Shova Ale steered Province 2 to 106-7 in 20 overs. Province 3 in reply were bundled out for 100 runs in 19.4 overs. Helisa Lama and Kanchan Shrestha had bailed out Province 3 with a 47-run sixth wicket partnership after they were reduced to 40-5 in 10 overs. In a match which looked well within their grasp, Province 3 were left in tatters after the run out of Lama triggered a terrible collapse as they lost last five wickets for just 13 runs.

Lama’s dismissal was soon followed by the dismissal of Shrestha as Province 3 lower order crumbled under pressure. Lama made a watchful 26 off 42 balls and Shrestha also scored the same number of runs facing 27 deliveries. Both hit two fours each. Ashmina Karmacharya (15) was Province 3’s next best contributor. Kabita Gautam and Rosy Kadari took two wickets each for Province 2.

Ale was the major contributor for Province 2 scoring 40 off 41 with six boundaries. Santoshi Chaudhary made 15 not out, while Province 3 bowlers gifted 31 extras. Suman Khatiwada and Karuna Shree Lama took two wickets each for Province 2.