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Papua New Guinea impress against ICC Men's T2O World Cup participants
17 Mar, 2024
Papua New Guinea, which is part of ICC's East Asia-Pacific region, took the fight to more stronger sides Nepal and Oman, who will both participate in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, beating them both. PNG's spoils this month include a Tri-series win
Papua New Guinea (PNG), who are touring Southeast Asia and the Gulf, have been having a mixed bag with some wins and losses. But they have managed to challenge and defeat two of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup participants.
On Sunday, March 17, PNG the lost second match of the two-game T20I series to Malaysia at Bangi in Malaysia by 63 runs after winning the first by 77 runs to share the series 1-1.
This followed their triumph in the Hong Kong T20I Tri-series where they shocked favourites and 2024 T20 World Cup participants Nepal in the final to win the title.
They had lost the league game against Nepal by 85 runs but made the final after thrashing Hong Kong, the host and the third participant, by 10 wickets. They then beat Nepal in the final by 86 runs.
In the final, opener Tony Ura’s 61 helped PNG score 171/8 in 20 overs. PNG were reduced to 43/4 in the sixth over. However, Ura and the lower-order batsmen saw the team to a strong total, which was challenging for the Nepalese.
Nepal, were however, shot out for a paltry 85 in 16.3 overs with bowlers Kabua Morea, Semo Kamea, Chad Soper, Sese Bau picking two wickets each. Ura won the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
Prior to the Tri-series, Papua New Guinea drew a two-match ODI series in Oman 1-1 but lost the three-match T20I series to the gulf nation that will also participate in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in USA and the West Indies.
The T20I series in Al Amerat was closely fought with Oman winning the first match by three wickets but losing the next convincingly by eight wickets.
In the final T20I, PNG were restricted to 127/6 in 20 overs with Hiri Hiri top-scoring with 53 off 49 balls at No. 6. Aqib Ilyas took 2/20.
Oman then huffed and puffed to the target, reaching 128 for the loss of six wickets in 19 overs.
Khalid Kail scored 32 not out after Oman found themselves in a spot of bother at 47/4.
Cricket, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Oman, T20, ICC Men's T20 World Cup