ATTARIYA, May 6: Armed Police Force (APF) has entered the semifinals of the ongoing Ruslan Attariya Cup Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament producing its second straight victory on Friday. To book its place in the last four as Group A winner, it registered eight wickets win over Kanchanpur XI. Earlier on Thursday, it had defeated Milan Cricket Academy of Jhapa by seven wickets in its first match. 

In the match played at APF’s cricket ground, Attariya, Kanchanpur XI won the toss and opted for bat before making a total of just 35 runs in 12.3 overs. To limit Kanchanpur for the low score, APF’s bowlers – Sarita Magar, Sita Rana Magar, Karuna Bhandari, Binu Buda Magar—claimed two wickets each. Skipper Bindu Rawal made highest five runs for Kanchanpur.  

In reply, APF met the target in just five overs losing two wickets. Opener Jyoti Pandey stroked highest 12 runs hitting two boundaries off 11 balls for the departmental side while another opener Sita Rana Magar and Mamata Chaudhary contributed six runs each. Kanchanpur’s Dolly Bhatt claimed two wickets. APF’s Sita was declared player-of-the-match and she received Rs 3000. 

Earlier in the first match of the day, Kathmandu’s Rising Cricket Women (RCW) defeated Kailali District Cricket Academy (KDCA) by 17 runs. RCW won the toss and decided to bat first to make a total of 137 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. RCW made a respectable total with the help of impressive batting from foreign recruits Pooja Nimavat, Shahanaz Prabin and Laxmi Chaudhary. 

Indian batswomen Pooja stroked 19 runs hitting four boundaries facing 11 balls while her countrywoman Laxmi who came to bat at third number contributed 20 runs smashing three boundaries off 21 balls.  Similarly, Shahanaz of Bangladesh also made 20 runs hitting three boundaries facing 31 balls. Skipper Aarati Bidari made 22 runs remaining not out while Nery Thapa Magar contributed 10 runs. KDCA’s Chadani Shah took two wickets while Suman Bist, Anjali Chand and Laxmi Saud added one each. 

In reply, KDCA was packed for 120 runs losing eight wickets in 20 overs. Openers Manju Bokati and Nitu Bhandari gave solid start to the innings building up a 48-run partnership for the first wicket. Manju stroked 20 runs hitting three boundaries facing 26 balls while Nitu made highest 35 runs for her team with the help of five boundaries off 38 balls.

However KDCA losing its middle order batswomen cheaply couldn’t meet the target. Kabita Kunwar who came to bat at number three made 17 runs while none other middle order batswomen touched double digit.  Chadani Shah was ducked while Anjali Chand, Shova Rokaya and Sushma Shrestha made one, nine and six runs respectively. 
RCW’s Ashmina Karmacharya claimed three wickets while player-of-the-match Pooja Nimavat added two. Likewise, Aarati Bidari and Kriti Sen took one each wicket.  

Meanwhile on Saturday, RCW will take on Bara Cricket Academy in the Group B match while Milan Cricket Academy and Kanchanpur XI will battle in the Group A match. 
 

 
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