Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club beat Eastern Region by 10 runs to clinch the NSC National Women’s Twenty20 Championship on Tuesday.

Put into the bat first at the Tribhuvan University Stadium, APF posted 64-1 in the rain-reduced 10-over a-side final. Eastern Region were able to scored 54-5 in their allotted 10 overs.

The departmental team lost opener Jyoti Pandy (8) cheaply but her partner Sita Rana Magar and Sarita Magar put on an unbroken 49-run stand to post a healthy total of the board. Rana Magar scored 29 off 28 balls with one hit to the fence. Magar struck 18-ball 22 with three boundaries. Kabita Gautam took the only APF wicket to fall.

In reply, Eastern Region openers failed to five a desired start as their top three players—Kajol Shrestha (6), Anuradha Chaudhary (8) and Mamta Chaudhary (6)—all lost their wickets cheaply. Three of their five wickets to fall fell prey to run outs. Skipper Rubina Chhetri made a valiant effort to chase down the target with an unbeaten 16-run knock but fell just short. Rashmi Sharma was their next best contributor with run-a-ball 12. Karuna Bhandari and Sarita Magar took one wicket each for APF.

Sarita Magar was adjudged the best player of the tournament. Santoshi Chaudhary of Eastern Region won the best bowler award and her teammate Sabnam Rai earned the best fielder accolade. Laxmi Chaudhary of Mid-western Region bagged the best batswoman award. The champions received Rs 100,000 and the runners-up got Rs 50,000.

The six team tournament included five regional teams and Nepal APF Club. The National Sports Council (NSC) claims that the tournament will serve as the basis for the team selection for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier-Asia, to be held in Mong Kok, Hong Kong on October 9-15. A Cricket Coordination Committee formed under NSC member Sailesh Karmacharya oversaw the tournament.

The NSC organised the tournament in the absence of cricket governing body of late. The International Cricket Council on April 25 suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), saying that it is in a state of leadership vacuum due to the dual existence of the governing committees.

•  Player of the Tournament

•  Best Batswomen

•  Best Bowler

•  Best Fielder