Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Birgunj and Janakpur registered victories on the inaugural day of the First Women’s Under-19 Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.
Bhairahawa beat host Kathamandu by 37 runs at the TU Cricket Ground. Batting first, Bhairahawa scored 117 for 7 in 20 overs. Player of the match Indu Berma scored 33 not out off 36 balls with four boundaries to help her team reach the total.
Praikshya Bashyal and Aksha Gurung each scored 13 while Kamala Rai was the most successful Kathmandu bowler taking 4 wickets for 13 runs. Shilu Rijal, Sumina Maharjan and Shraddha Aryal each grabbed a wicket.
Sangita Gauchan scored 29 off 37 balls for Kathmandu in the reply but other batswomen could not hold long enough as Kathmandu were bowled out for 80 in 19.4 overs. Indu, Aksha, Babita Giri and Saiya Gurung each took two wickets for the winners.
In second match at the TU Ground, Nepalgunj outplayed Pokhara for a huge 80-run victory. Batting first, Nepalgunj scored 123 for 1 in 20 overs with Saraswoti GM getting a half-century. Her unbeaten 52 off 58 balls scored with the help of 7 boundaries put Nepalgunj on top.
Gita Gosai, who lost her wicket to Aarya Aryal, score 23 and Ashmita Thapa got 19 not out.
Amrita Kasai and Samana Pun grabbed 3 wickets each to bowl out Pokhara for 43 in 13.1 overs. Only Aarati Bidari got double-digit scoring 14. Anu KC and Kamala BC took a wicket each to support Amrita (3 for 5 in 2.1 overs) and Samana (3 for 11 in 3 overs).
At IOE Ground, Birgunj scored 100 for 7 in 20 overs – thanks to 33 not out by player of the match Rachana Aryal and 20 by Manisha Chaulagain. Rubina Chhetri bowled the best for Biratnagar taking 3 wickets for 7 runs off 4 overs while Sabnam Rai got 2 for 21 in 4 overs.
Biratnagar only managed to score 71 in 16 overs and lost by 29 runs. Rubina was highest scorer with 12. For Birgunj, Puja Giri claimed 4 wickets for 22 runs and Pushpa Aryal got 2 wickets for 15 runs.
In the only match won by the team batting second, Janakpur defeated Baitadi by 8 wickets. Baitadi batted first scor-ing 54 in 13.4 overs with Manisha Godari (18) and Puja Bhatta (14) getting runs.
Anuradha Chaudhary bowled tight taking 3 wickets for 4 runs in 3 overs while Kritu Dahal got a couple of wicket.
Janakpur lost Usha Bhujel (2) and Shanti Chaudhary (1) cheaply but player of the match Anuradha (26 not out off 21 balls) and Kabita Gautam (21 not out of 14 balls) took Janakpur to the target in 7.5 overs. Sonu Khadka and Anjali Chand each took a wicket.
On Thursday, Kathmandu meets Janakpur, Nepalgunj meets Bhairahawa at IOE Ground while Biratnagar plays Baitadi and Pokhara locks horns with Birgunj at the TU Ground.