Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club edged Lumbini Province by 61 runs in their final group match on Monday to finish on top of Group 'A' in the Prime Minister Cup Women's National twenty20 cricket tournament in Lamahi, Dang.

In the clash of sides already assured for semi-finals, APF elected to bat first and made 122-4 before restricting Lumbini at 61-7. With the outcome APF top the group with maximum six points and Lumbini finish runner-up with four points.

Departmental team's opener Jyoti Pandey, who was one run short of a half century, shared crucial partnership for the first two wickets in the team's moderate total. The player-of-the-match hit a boundary in her patience knock of 54 balls before being bowled by Lumbini skipper Nary Thapa.

Pandey shared 44-run stand for first wicket with Rajmati Airee who departed for 11 runs. She played a 62-run partnership for the second wicket with Indu Barma as the latter contributed 28 runs. She hit four boundaries facing 30 deliveries. Sarita Magar (10 runs) was the other batter to score in double figures for APF who also got 18 extra runs.

Lumbini skipper Thapa claimed two wickets, including the second one of Airee, while Saraswati Pun and Kritika Marasini shared a wicket each.

Lumbini got off to a shaky start losing first three wickets for just 10 runs, including that of skipper Thapa. Laxmi Chaudhary and Saraswati Pun contributed 11 and undefeated 10 runs, the only Lumbini batters to score in double digits. Karuna Bhandari of APF claimed three wickets in four-over conceding 16 runs.

In the day's dead rubber match between the sides already out from the semi-finals contention, Province 2 thump Karnali Province by 143 runs to return home with a consolation win.

An unbeaten 69 run from opener Anuradha Chaudhary and 43 extra runs propelled Province 2 to a total of 165-3. In reply, they restricted hapless Karnali at 22-9. Chaudhary, who was named the player of the match, hit four boundaries in a 60-ball knock.

Sobha Aale contributed 23 runs and Bimala Magar scored 21 runs for Province 2. Nisha Parajuli of Karnali grabbed two wickets.

Karnali opener Trisana Bishwokarma who contributed seven runs was the highest scorer for the team that lost six batters for a duck.

Saraswati Kumari and Kabita Gautam of Province 2 claimed three wickets apiece.

Group 'B' matches will begin from Tuesday with Sudurpaschim Province taking on Gandaki Province, and Bagmati Province up against Province 1. The top two finishers of the group after round robin league will enter the semi-finals.