KATHMANDU: Lumbini Province secured a comfortable six-wicket win over Gandaki Province to register their first victory in the Group A match of the Prime Minister Cup Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament at Fapla Cricket Ground in Dhangadhi on Friday. 

Chasing a modest target of 98 runs, Lumbini achieved the total with 22 balls to spare. Thanks to an excellent performance from player-of-the-match Saraswati Pun, who contributed unbeaten 31 runs.

The victory lifted Lumbini to third place with three points from as many matches while Gandaki are fourth with one point and yet to register after four matches. 

Electing to bat first, Gandaki openers Srijana Poudel and Shreya Shahi departed cheaply as they posted 97/4 in the allotted 20 overs. Salina Sen (not out 33 runs off 52) and Rekha Tamang (25 runs off 31) shared a 54 runs stand for the fourth wicket while none other player came up with remarkable batting performance.

Lumbini’s Maneesha Rana claimed two wickets while Angee Pathak and Madhu DC shared a scalp each.

In reply, Lumbini openers Ranju Shrestha and Angee Pathak created the base for victory putting up a 47-run stand for the opening wicket as they made 98-4 in 16.2 overs. Shrestha scored 20 runs from 26 balls and Pathak contributed 18 runs from 27 deliveries.   

Saraswati Pun played a pivotal role, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls, including five boundaries.

Apakshya Budathoki grabbed two wickets for Gandaki.