Sarita Magar’s magical bowling performance, including a hat-trick, sealed emphatic victory for Armed Police Force (APF) on the opening day of the Wai Wai Women’s T20 National Cricket Tournament on Wednesday in Pokhara while Region No 7 (Janakpur) also registered a win.
APF thrashed host Region No 8 (Pokhara) by 10 wickets at the Pokhara Stadium while Janakpur defeated Region No 1 (Biratnagar) by 34 runs at the Nagar Bikash Ground.
At the Pokhara Stadium, Region 8 Pokhara elected to bat first but Magar’s magical spell restricted it at 31/9 in 20 overs. Magar took four wickets including a hat-trick. She bowled only two overs, including a maiden over, and giving away only one run.
APF bowler Sarita Magar receives player-of-the-match trophy from Lal Babu Prasad of Chaudhary Group and CAN Treasurer Raju Babu Shrestha.
Photo Courtesy: CAN
Magar bowled out Priya Gurung in the fourth ball of the 19th over, trapped Alisha Acharya LBW in the next ball and bowled Rejika Bhandari in the last ball of the over to complete her hat-trick. It was the first hat-trick performance in domestic tournaments of women.
Rubina Chhetri and Karuna Bhandari claimed two wickets each while Sonu Khadka claimed a wicket.
Captain Aarati Bidari was the top-scorer for Pokhara with eight runs off 20 balls. APF girls gave away 13 runs as extras.
APF chased the low total in 2.5 overs. Madhu Thapa remained unbeaten with nine runs and Sita Rana Magar scored 13 runs for securing 10-wicket victory to APF. Pokhara’s bowlers gave away 10 extras to make APF victory easier.
Sarita Magar was adjudged player-of-the-match for her brilliant bowling performance.
At the Nagar Bikash Ground, electing to bat Janakpur put up 75/7 in 20 overs and bowled out Biratnagar at 41 runs in 18.5 overs.
Player-of-the-match Mamta Chaudhary contributed 19 runs off 27 balls for Janakpur but other batswomen could not reach double-digit scores. Extras also contributed Janakpur with great deal as Biratnagar bowlers gave away 19 extras.
Anu Agrawal took three wickets while Ambika Buddhathoki claimed a wicket for Biratnagar. Three batswomen of Janakpur were short of the crease.
Biratnagar suffered catastrophic run-outs while chasing the target. Five of its batswomen were run out. On the other hand, Kritu Dahal took two wickets while Santoshi Chaudhary, Anuradha Chaudhary and Kabita Gautam claimed a wicket each for Janakpur to unsettle Biratnagar.
Captain Rashmi Chaulagain (14 runs off 32 balls) was the only Biratnagar’s batswomen to score in double digits. The loss could have been more humiliating, had not Janakpur bowlers gave away 12 runs as extras.