In a gripping showdown at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Bagmati emerged victorious with a nail-biting nine-run win over Lumbini in Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Cup Women’s Twenty20 national cricket tournament. Bagmati’s triumph, propelled by a stellar performance, secured them a crucial victory and kept their playoff aspirations alive. Having amassed 6 points from five games, Bagmati showcased resilience in a high-stakes encounter.

Batting first after winning the toss, Bagmati posted 109 runs for losing eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Helisha Gurung played a pivotal role, contributing 46 runs, while Yashu Pandey remained unbeaten with 12 runs. Facing the target of 110 runs set by Bagmati, Lumbini fought hard but fell short, managing only 100 runs in 20 overs, losing eight wickets in the process. Captain Saraswati Gharti Magar led the charge with 29 runs, supported by Kamala Gharti Magar with 20 runs, Saraswati Pun with 17 runs, and Lakshmi Chaudhary with 11 runs.

Saraswati Gharti Magar and Saraswati Pun combined forces to contribute 50 runs for the third wicket. Bagmati’s bowling unit showcased their prowess, with captain Asmina Karmacharya and Khushi Dangol claiming two wickets each, while Sanskrit Phuyal, Soni Pakhrin, and Manisha Upadhyay secured one wicket each.

Meanwhile, at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Sudurpaschim clinched victory against Madhesh by five wickets, bolstering their position in the playoff race with eight points from five games. Sudurpaschim displayed a composed performance, successfully chasing down the target of 83 runs presented by Madhesh with one ball to spare.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, Madhesh posted 82 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Pura Mahata scored 27 runs, supported by Shana Pravin’s unbeaten 19 runs and Rosi Kadari’s 10 runs. Sudurpaschim’s bowling attack, led by Laxmi Saud’s impressive four-wicket haul and contributions from Janaki Thapa and Kabita Joshi, limited Madhesh’s scoring opportunities.

In Sudurpaschim’s successful chase, Kabita Joshi led the charge with 26 runs, accompanied by Samjhana Khadka’s 21 runs and captain Ritu Kanaujia’s 10 runs. Madhesh’s bowlers, including Captain Kabita Gautam and Sakshi Yadav, took two wickets, while Pooja Mahato secured one wicket.

.