Papua New Guinea keep clean sheet with fourth win, lift title

Papua New Guinea (PNG) kept their slate clean as they trudged to a one-wicket win over Hong Kong in the final round-robin match on Sunday at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur for their fourth successive victory in the Malaysia Men’s Tri-Nations Cup, 2023, which is also known as the Malaysia T20I Tri-series.

After beating Malaysia by four wickets on Friday, PNG found the going tough against Hong Kong in their last league encounter, struggling to reach the target of 90 in 18.4 overs and losing nine wickets.

Hong Kong had struggled to 89 for nine in 20 overs with only off-spinner and right-handed batsman Ehsan Khan getting into 20s, top-scoring with 21 not out off 27 balls.

All the PNG bowlers were among wickets with leg-spinner Charles Amini taking 2/15 to be the best.

But PNG were in for a shock as 21-year-old Hong Kong medium pacer Nasrulla Rana shook their line-up, picking 6/12 in four overs to leave them tottering at 77/9 in 16 overs. Leggie Ehsan took 2/15. Lega Siaka was the top-scorer for PNG with 21.

Somehow the last pair added 13 in 2.4 overs to see the team through.

Rana got the Player of the Match award.

While PNG topped the table with eight point after four wins from four matches, Malaysia were second with four points from four matches and two wins. Hong Kong, who have played in Asia Cup along with Test nations, returned winless with four losses in four games.

Brief Scores: Hong Kong 89/9 in 20 overs (Ehsan Khan 21 not out, Charles Amini 2/15) lost to PNG 90/9 in 184 overs (Lega Siaka 21, Nasrulla Rana 6/12, Ehsan Khan 2/15) by one wicket.

Cricket, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia Cricket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong