Sports

Nepal Police Club defeated Bagmati Province by 36 runs to set up meeting with Armed Police Force in the women's cricket tournament final under the ninth National Games on Monday. 

The final will be on Tuesday, with losing semi-finalists Bagmati and Lumbini play a play-off for a bronze medal the same day. 

After Bagmati won the toss and invited Nepal Police to bat first at the Pokhara Stadium, the police team scored 123 runs at the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Openers Kajal Shrestha and Kavita Kunwar laid a solid foundation for Nepal Police, putting on 70 runs off 12.4 overs. 

Kunwar made 26 runs off 35 balls with two fours and a six before being bowled by spinner Khushi Dangol. Nepal Police were in a spot of bother when Khadka was run out on the next ball and Apsari Begum dismissed for six runs.

But Shrestha carried the Nepal Police momentum, only to miss her fifty by fours runs as she was out caught by wicketkeeper Kanchan Shrestha off the bowling of Khatiwada.

Kavita Joshi and captain Rubina Chhetri continued to gather quick runs to steer Nepal Police past the 100-run mark. Both the batters returned to the pavilions undefeat, with Joshi making 15 runs with a six from nine balls and Chhetri scoring 17 runs off 14 balls with two fours. 

Khushi Dangol, Suman Khatiwada and Ashmina Karmacharya took one wicket each for Bagmati.
Chasing 124 runs for victory, Bagmati were never in contention as they were restricted to 87-8 in 20 overs. 

Opener Asmita Kharel was dismissed for three, Kanchan Shrestha for a duck and Anisha Mojakoti for four runs. Binda Katuwal was run out for 5 runs. Arati Bidari scored 15 runs in 15 balls with a boundary, Bipisha Shahi scored four runs and Soni Pakhrin scored one run.

Suman Khatiwada topscored for Bagmati with a run-a-ball 23 runs with three fours. Captain Ashmina Karmacharya scored 18 runs off 35 balls.

Bagmati, reduced to 23-4 in 5.3 overs at one stage, tried to stage a comeback with Karmacharya and Khatiwad sharing 31 runs for the fifth wicket. But their rally ended when Khatiwada was bowled while trying to sweep Police bowler Chhetri.

Kunwar was the peak of the Nepal Police bowlers, taking three wickets giving away six runs in four overs. Fast bowler Ishwari Bista took two wickets in four overs for 20 runs. Captain Ruveena and Sangita Rai took one wicket each.