Defending champions Armed Police Force(APF) defeated Region No.5 Nepalgunj in the final of the National Women’s Championship, played today at Tribhuwan International Cricket Ground.
In what turned out to be the recap of previous year’s final APF emerged easy winners. Nepalgunj were 114 runs short in their chase as APF successfully defended the title
This is the first National Title for APF this year having lost the finals of Men’s T20 to Army a few months back.
Winning the toss and batting first APF posted 187 runs in 40 overs. Opener Sita Rana Magar held the first 20 innings for APF. She scored unbeaten 58 runs from 62 balls with 11 boundaries. She added 42 runs for the first wicket with Madhu Thapa(12) and 43 with Rubina Pandey(16) for third.
Contributions from Neera Rajopadhaya(20), Ritu Kanujiya(16) and Karuna Bhandari(17) helped APF post challenging 187 runs on the board. Anu KC picked up three wickets for Region No.5 Nepalgunj and Rekha BC picked up two. Trishna Singh who had been having terrific tournament with the ball got only one.
In the second innings Ritu Kanujiya from APF annihilated top four of injury-ridden Nepalgunj line up. Leading run scorer and Wicket taker of the tournament Nary Thapa was injured after bowling her second delivery in the first innings and unable to bat.
Openers Geeta Gosai(7) and Sarita THapa(18) did provide a good start for Nepalgunj adding 32 runs in 9 overs. But once the opening stand was broken Nepalgunj lost it way. Mamata KC top scored for Nepalgunj with very slow 19 of 57 balls. Neera Rajopadhaya, Binu Budha Magar, Karuna Bhandari and Sarita Magar each picked up a wicket for APF.
Ritu Kanujiya who ended with figures of 8-3-18-4 after an useful 16 with the bat in the first innings received the player of the match recognition.
Nepalgunj Stands Out in Awards Ceremony
Nepalgunj bagged 3 of the four awards at final award ceremony of the Women’s National Tournament. Trishna Singh who had picked up 11 wickets in 4 of the group matches was adjudged the best bowler. Nary Thapa who made 247 runs in 6 innings with 1 half century and 1 century was adjudged the Best player as well as the best batswoman of the tournament. Nary has 12 wickets to her name in this tournament.
APF’s Jyoti Pandey was awarded the emerging player of the tournament. Jyoti scored 200 runs in 6 matches including an unbeaten century.
The award ceremony held similar fate as men’s T20 Tournament. There Akash Bista from Nepalgunj bagged the best bowler and emerging player of the tournament while Anil Mandal was adjudged the best player
