May 20, 2024 – The Armed Police Force (APF) Club women’s team has once again demonstrated their dominance by winning the Lalitpur Mayor’s Cup Women’s Tournament 2024. This victory marks their fourth consecutive championship in the tournament’s history, maintaining an unbeaten record with 20 straight wins.

The final match, held at TU Cricket Ground on Saturday, saw APF clinch a narrow victory over Sudurpaschim Province by just two runs in a nail-biting finish. APF set a target of 156 runs, which Sudurpaschim nearly chased down, finishing at 153/5.

Sudurpaschim’s chase was fraught with challenges as they found themselves at 49/5 in the seventh over after losing key players Rubi Poddar, Samjhana Khadka, and Bindu Rawal. However, Kabita Joshi and Laxmi Saud built a resilient partnership, reviving their team’s hopes. Joshi’s explosive performance in the penultimate over, where she hit three sixes off Rajmati Airee, brought Sudurpaschim close to victory, needing only six runs from the final over. Yet, Rekha Rawal’s stellar bowling ensured APF’s triumph as Sudurpaschim fell short by two runs. Joshi remained unbeaten with an impressive 67 runs, while Saud contributed 29 runs.

Earlier in the match, APF elected to bat first and scored 155/4. The opening partnership of 91 runs set a solid foundation, with Rajmati Airee scoring 50 runs off 46 balls. Sita Rana Magar was the standout performer, scoring 74 runs off 55 balls before being dismissed in the final over. Mamta Chaudhary and Indu Barma added 10 and 9 runs respectively.

Sita Rana Magar’s outstanding performance earned her the titles of Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament, having accumulated 142 runs and taken 4 wickets throughout the competition. Samjhana Khadka was recognized as the best batter with a total of 156 runs, and Kritika Marasini was named the best bowler, taking 11 wickets.

This victory reinforces APF Club’s reputation as a formidable force in women’s cricket, showcasing their consistent excellence and competitive spirit. The tournament highlighted the talent and tenacity of the players, promising an exciting future for women’s cricket in the region.