Karuna Bhandari takes 5 for 2 in APF’s mammoth win; Lumbini Province emerge victorious

Extras were the second-highest top scorer while Karuna Bhandari took a splendid 5/2 as Armed Police Force defeated Karnali Police by 204 runs in Nepal's Prime Minister Cup opener in Lamahi on Saturday (December 26). In the other match of the day, Lumbini Province defeated Province Number 2.



Captain Sita Rana Magar (68) scored the maiden half-century of the tournament while Sarita Magar scored an unbeaten 44 as Armed Police Force posted a mammoth 235 for 4 in 20 overs. Batting first, Sita Rana and Jyoti Pandey (32) made a flying start putting up 97 runs for the first wicket.



The duo played some delightful shots hitting the opposition bowlers at will before Pandey gifted her wicket to Nisha Parajuli. Sarita joined Sita Rani to stitch 99 runs for the second wicket as Armed Police slowly approached the 200-run mark.



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However, as many as 67 extras were bowled in the match helping Armed Police’s cause in a great way. Dikshya Puri (2/42) took a couple of wickets towards the end. In reply, the Karnali Police scorecard looked similar to a mobile phone number as the Laxmi Rimal-led side were all out for just 31, thanks to Bhandari’s fifer.



The Nepal international came in as a third change bowler and polished the lower-order including two in an over. In her 3.1 overs, Bhandari bowled as many as 17 dot balls to stall the opposition chase as Karnali Police’s chase stopped at 14.1 overs.



In the second clash of the day, Susmita Bhusaila picked up three wickets providing Lumbini Province with a huge nine-wicket victory over Province Number 2.  Chasing, 78 for victory, Lumbini overhauled the target with 3.5 overs to spare.



Batting first, Province Number 2 didn’t have the best of starts losing opener Melina Rayamajjhi for a duck in the fourth ball of the innings off Bhusaila. Sawatika Bajgai (1/17) removed Goma Aale before Bhusaila got another in the next over to leave the opposition at 15 for 3 in the fifth over.



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Anuradha Chaudhary (21) and Sana Prabin (21) took charge and stitched together a 33 run partnership before the former was stumped out by Nitu Bhandari off Gita Gosai (1/20). Bimala Magar scored 10 towards the end to take the score at 77 for 7 in 20 overs. Bhusaila finished with figures 4-0-10-3.



In reply, Gosai (23 not out) and Saraswati GM started the chase of well scoring 53 runs for the opening wickets in 12 overs. Saraswati was unlucky to be bowled out for 22 before skipper Nary Thapa (15) saw the team home in 16.1 overs.



Brief scores:



Province Number 2: 77/7 in 20 overs (Anuradha Chaudhary 21; Susmita Bhusaila 3/10) lost to Lumbini Province 78/1 in 16.1 overs (Gita Gosai 23*; Kabita Gautam 1/19) by nine wickets.



Armed Police Force: 235/4 in 20 overs (Sita Rana Magar 68, Sarita Magar 44*; Dikshya Puri 2/42) beat Karnali Police 31 all out in 14.1 overs (Karuna Bhandari 5/2) by 204 runs.