Ashmina Karmacharya’s Bagmati Province defeated Lumbini Province on Tuesday, clinching the bronze medal in Women’s cricket in the ongoing ninth national games. Bagmati outplayed Lumbini by seven wickets in the third-place match.
Invited to bat first at Pokhara Rangasala, Lumbini managed to post just 89 runs from the allotted 20 overs after only two batters crossed the double-digit figure. Skipper Saraswati Ganga Magar scored 30 runs, while Sushmita Bhusal added a quick 12* at the end. Three batters were sent back for a duck. Bipisha Shahi was a pick of a bowler for Bagmati pocketing four wickets. Khusi Dangol and Soni Pakhrin also grabbed three and two wickets, respectively.
Suman Khatiwada’s blistering knock saw Bagmati chase the total with 23 balls spare. Khatiwada whacked 41 from just 21 balls scoring six fours and one biggy. Opener Ashmita Kharel scored 20, whereas Kanchan Shrestha and Anisha Majhakoti contributed 10 runs each. Kritika Marasini, once again, was superb with the ball finishing her spell with the figure of 4-0-9-2.
Bipisha Shahi was adjudged as player of the match after destroying Lumbini’s middle order. Lumbini and Bagmati both were defeated by the departmental side, APF, and Police, respectively, in the semifinal match.