PNG Barras return home after successful stint

The HEBOU PNG Barramundis arrived back in Port Moresby after a successful tour of Hong Kong and Cricket PNG High Performance Manager/Head Coach, Joe Dawes, was impressed once again.

The Hebou PNG Barramundis fell short in the West Pacific T20 Series, losing the final to Hong Kong by seven (7) runs but bounced back to win the three (3) match 50 Over South China Cup 2-1 against Hong Kong.  

“It was a shame to lose the last game (West Pacific T20 Final) but we put two good weeks of cricket together and I think it was just one of those days that didn’t go to plan. 

“Plenty of good things to come out of the trip and Hong Kong are a good side. We cannot take the foot off the gas and expect to beat them,” said Dawes.

The Hebou PNG Barramundis reached the West Pacific T20 Final after winning all of their round-robin matches comfortably against Hong Kong and Hong Kong ‘A’. There were a number of outstanding performances from the team and individuals during the West Pacific T20 Series.

“I have been really pleased with the team effort to be honest. 

“At some stage during this trip everyone has put their hand up and done some good things. 

“Norman (Vanua), CJ (Charles Amini Jnr) and Jason Kila probably were our best but everyone did their parts,” said Dawes.

In the South China Cup, the Hebou PNG Barramundis won the first two matches against Hong by seven wickets and 73 runs respectively but Hong Kong won the final match by 110 runs.

“Same guys (Vanua, Amini and Kila) I think did great jobs. Chad (Soper) was also good in his different roles and we saw some good spells from Damian Ravu as well,” stated Dawes.

On previous tours to Hong Kong, the Hebou PNG Barramundis had struggled against good-quality spinners in dry, spin-friendly, sub-continent conditions. It seems that they are improving in these conditions after these positive results in both the West Pacific T20 Cup and South China Cup. 

“We have worked really hard on playing spin and this has showed during this whole series. There is still improvement to be made but we are progressing well,” said Dawes.

The Hebou PNG Barramundis finished with six wins from eight matches on the Hong Kong Tour.

“It was a successful trip for us, getting games into some different players like Dogodo (Bau), Anthony (Vare) and Nos (Nosaina Pokana) which will be good for our depth in the long run. Also losing Lega Siaka early through illness has allowed us to play with the batting order and we saw guys step up when needed,” said the coach.

The Hebou PNG Barramundis have a break in the short term before embarking on a crucial 2019 season.

“The boys have some time off and then we have a very big fitness program to put into play. We have some very important cricket in the first part of 2019 so we will make sure we are as well prepared as possible for this,” concluded Dawes.

Match results

West Pacific Cup

Match 1: Hebou PNG Barramundis 3/214 (20) Sese Bau 69* (27), Asad Vala 39 (28), Lega Siaka 37* (25), Tony Ura 32 (18), Charles Amini Jnr 28 (22), Nusrullah Rana 2/41 (4), Waqs Barkat 1/32 (3) defeated Hong Kong ‘A’ 10/75 (16.3) Raag Kapur 21 (26), Jason Kila 3/11 (4), Charles Amini Jnr 3/13 (4), Chad Soper 2/18 (2.3) by 139 runs

Match 2: Hebou PNG Barramundis 10/159 (19.3) Sese Bau 65 (49), Tony Ura 40 (18), Aftab Hussain 4/25 (3.3), Hasan Mohammad 3/22 (4) defeated Hong Kong ‘A’ 10/105 (17.3) Simondeep Singh 32 (22), Nosaina Pokana 3/20 (3), Jason Kila 2/16 (4), Charles Amini Jnr 2/16 (4) by 54 runs

Match 3: Hebou PNG Barramundis 7/165 (20) Assad Vala 58 (39), Tony Ura 25 (14), Charles Amini Jnr 19 (14), Jason Kila 19 (11), Ehsan Khan 2/17 (4), Mohammad Ghazanfar 2/42 (4) defeated Hong Kong 10/128 (18.2) Babar Hayat 48 (31), Ehsan Khan 22 (20), Aizaz Khan 21 (15), Jason Kila 3/11 (4), Nosaina Pokana 3/33 (4), Norman Vanua 2/30 (3.2) by 37 runs  

Match 4: Hong Kong 9/123 (20) Waqas Khan 34 (25), Jaimie Atkinson 18 (30), Jason Kila 2/22 (4), Nosaina Pokana 2/32 (4) defeated by Hebou PNG Barramundis 4124 (17) Charles Amini Jnr 46* (37), Anthony Vare 28 (20), Chad Soper 20* (16), Kinchi Shah 1/12 (2) by six (6) wickets with 18 balls remaining

Final: Hong Kong 8/158 (20) Aizaz Khan 72 (38), Waqas Khan 39 (35), Chad Soper 2/18 (4), Jason Kila 2/24 (4), Norman Vanua 2/37 (4) defeated Hebou PNG Barramundis 5/151 (20) Kipling Doriga 56 (47), Assad Vala 55 (50), Eshan Nawaz 3/20 (4) by seven (7) runs

South China Cup

Match 1: Hong Kong 10/145 (41.4) Raag Kapur 38 (60), Aizaz Khan 31 (28), Wagas Khan 24 (49), Eshan Khan 22 (38), Charles Amini Jnr 4/33 (9.4), Norman Vanua 3/28 (8), Damien Ravu 1/23 (6) defeated by Hebou PNG Barramundis 3/148 (31.4) Assad Vala 64 (75), Dogodo Bau 61* (100), Charles Amini Jnr 11* (10), Aizaz Khan 1/20 (3), Eshan Nawaz 1/26 (5) by seven (7) wickets with 110 balls remaining

Match 2: Hebou PNG Barramundis 8/255 (50) Norman Vanua 50* (40), Chad Soper 30* (44), Anthony Vare 29 (35), Kipling Doriga 28 (49), Charles Amini Jnr 28 (31), Jason Kila 24 (40), Tony Ura 21 (23), Eshan E Khan 3/54 (9) defeated Hong Kong 10/182 (40.1) Shahid Wasif 55 (71), Haroon Arshad 37 (39), Charles Amini Jnr 4/42 (10), Norman Vanua 3/32 (7.1), Assad Vala 1/17 (4), Chad Soper 1/21 (6) by 73 runs

Match 3: Hong Kong 10/204 (43.2) Babar Hayat 107 (102), Kinchi Shah 22 (35), Damien Ravu 3/48 (10), Charles Amini Jnr 3/52 (10), Norman Vanua 2/36 (6.2), Jason Kila 1/35 (10) defeated Hebou PNG Barramundis 10/94 (25.2) Chad Soper 24 (37), Tony Ura 22 (10), Lega Siaka 17 (29), Kinchi Shah 4/28 (10), Eshan Khan 3/2 (3) by 110 runs

HEBOU PNG Barramundis Squad

1. Assad Vala

2. Tony Ura

3. Charles Amini Jnr

4. Sese Bau

5. Lega Siaka

6. Kipling Doriga

7. Dogodo Bau

8. Jason Kila

9. Norman Vanua

10. Nosaina Pokana

11. John Boge Reva

12. Chad Soper

13. Damien Ravu

14. Anthony Vare

(Filepic)

Author: 
Press release