Sports
Sudurpaschim, Province 2 coast to easy victories
In the day’s second match, Province 2 also had an easy ride in a nine-wicket thumping of Karnali ProvinceSports Bureau
Sudurpaschim Province began their Prime Minister Cup Women’s Twenty20 National cricket tournament with a crushing nine-wicket thumping of Gandaki Province on Wednesday.
Two wickets each from Kabita Kunwar, Laxmi Saud and Janaki Bhatta bundled out Gandaki for a paltry 58 runs in exactly 20 overs after they elected to bat first at the Covered Hall cricket ground. Kunwar returned with the bat to remain unbeaten as Sudurpaschim reached the target in just seven overs for the loss of one wicket.
Kunwar made a run-a-ball 21 with four hits to the fence. Another opener Kabita Joshi and Rewati Dhami made 12 runs each with both hitting two boundaries apiece. Manisha Upadhyaya took the only Sudurpaschim wicket to fall.
Earlier, Gandaki had a disastrous start when their openers Saru Rajbhandari and Shristi Paudel fell for ducks to run out. Bhatta removed Yashoda Bista (three) and Dhana Chhantyal (duck) in a single over reducing Gandaki to 16-4 in 8.4 overs. Sushila Gurung and Shila Regmi saved Gandaki blushes with 19-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Gurung made 17 off 41 balls before running herself out. Regmi defied the Sudurpaschim bowlers remaining unbeaten on a 39-ball 19. Both of Gandaki top scorers hit two boundaries apiece. Four of Gandaki batswomen failed to open their account. Kunwar, who bowled tightly in her four-over spell conceding just six runs, was named the player-of-the-match.
In the day’s second match, Province 2 also had an easy ride in a nine-wicket thumping of Karnali Province. Shanti Chaudhary took three wickets as Province 2 skittled out Karnali for just 58 runs in 19.2 overs. Chaudhary then shared 53 runs for the opening wicket with Nir Kumari Balampaki as Province 2 reached the target in just 6.1 overs.
Player-of-the-match Chaudhary made an unbeaten on 18 off 21 balls with one boundary. Balampaki hit three fours in her 12-ball 15. Earlier, Rabina Chaudhary was the only Karnali player to make runs in double figures with a 25-ball 13. Goma Ale, Kabita Gautam, Shova Ale and Aarati Chaudhary also took a wicket each.
A total of eight teams including seven province and Nepal Armed Police Force Club are participating in the tournament organised by the National Sports Council.