PNG cricket team continues dominant performance

Hebou PNG Barramundis continued their dominant performance in ICC World Twenty20 East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier A at Suva, inflicting another big defeat, this time against Vanuatu.

Vanuatu captain Andrew Mansale elected to field first after winning the toss - a decision he must have rued on a flat track.

After a delayed start, Hebou PNG Barramundis captain Assad Vala got straight into things along with Tony Ura, who had scored a century in the first match.

The openers, scoring at a healthy rate of over 11 an over in the power play, racing to 69 in the power play, with Ura doing most of the scoring. He was finally dismissed for 51 in just 33 balls as the Vanuatu captain Mansale brought himself to the attack to break the opening partnership.

The wicket did nothing to slow the Barras’ charge as CJ Amini continued where Ura left out. Amini and Vala surged the score ahead as Vala, who reached his 50 in style, with a 6 off the bowling of Wesley Viraliliu.

Vala decided to unleash and scored his next 50 in just 16 balls, becoming the second centurion at the tournament. Not to be left behind, Amini scored a massive 20 runs to reach his own half century in the 18th over, which went for 27 runs overall. Despite Vala's wicket, Hebou PNG Barramundis finished strong at 239/2 in their alloted 20 overs.

Facing an uphill task, the Vanuatu batting attack got off to a disastrous start as Jason Kila ripped the wicket of opener Ronald Tari on just the second ball of the match. Patrick Matautaava scored some fantastic boundaries before he was dismissed by Kila too for a well-played 23.

Youngster Nalin Nipiko played a gem of an innings at number 4, but he did not have much help from the other end. Opener Joshua Rasu scored just 8 runs in 17 balls before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lega Siaka.

Chad Soper bowled an absolutely magical 12th over, taking 4 wickets in his first over as Nipiko watched on, Vanuatu going from 85/4 to 85/7 in the space of 5 balls. Nipiko kept at it, undeterred, smashing Siaka for 23 runs in the 13th over to bring up his 50. But that was as good as it got for Vanuatu, who kept losing wickets and were eventually bundled out for 158.

Hebou PNG Barramundis lead the table with 6 points from their opening 3 games and go again tomorrow, playing both Fiji and Samoa who faced off in the other game of the day.

The hosts won that game by 9 runs and are second in the table, with 4 points from 3 games.

Match Summary
Hebou PNG Barramundis 239/2 (20 Overs) A Vala 110(50b, 6x4s, 9x6s), CJ Amini 61*(32b, 5x4s, 3x6s) T Ura 51(33b, 6x4s, 2x6s), A Mansale 4-0-34-1, C Blake 4-0-50-1
defeated
Vanuatu 158 (19.1 Overs) N Nipiko 84(53b, 2x4s, 7x6s), PK Matautaava 23(13b, 5x4s), JW Chilia 12(8b, 2x4s),A Mansale 11(8b, 1x6s), C Soper 4-1-22-4, J Kila 4-0-23-2, JB Reva 2.5-0-25-2
by 81 Runs

Remaining Fixtures

Tuesday 28th August, 2018
9:30am Hebou PNG Barramundis vs Samoa

1:30pm Hebou PNG Barramundis vs Fiji

Wednesday 29th August, 2018
1:30pm Hebou PNG Barramundis vs Vanuatu

Author: 
Press release