HEBOU PNG Barramundis hosted Cricket Hong Kong in a T20 Tri-series involving both the countries and a PNG Academy XI squad, which Papua New Guinea senior squad won, remaining unbeaten throughout the T20 series.
The series was followed by a 3-match International One-Day series between Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong at Amini Park in Port Moresby. PNG won the series 2-1 after winning the first two matches before Hong Kong pulled one back in the final match of the series.
The first match was highlighted by Lega Siaka, who came into bat at 6th position with PNG struggling at 34/4 in the 12th over and went onto hit a monstrous 188 not out to lift the team total to 341/9 at the end of their 50 overs. PNG scored a massive 122 runs in the final 10 overs of their innings. Jason Kila, Norman Vanua and Chad Soper contributed 27 runs each in partnership with Siaka at the other end. Ehsan Nawaz (4/26) and Ehsan Khan (2/59) were the pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong.
In reply, Hong Kong were bowled out for 265 in the 49th over. Nizakat Khan and Waqas Khan hit half-centuries in the chase but none of the batsmen could go onto making a big score to take the match deep into the chase.
Brief Score (01st Match):
Papua New Guinea 341/9 in 50 overs (Lega Siaka 188 n.o, Charles Amini Jr 33, Jason Kila 27, Norman Vanua 27, Chad Soper 27, Ehsan Nawaz 4/26, Ehsan Khan 2/59, Aizaz Khan 1/59) beat Hong Kong 265 all out in 48.3 overs (Nizakat Khan 58, Waqas Khan 56, Anshuman Rath 34, Charles Amini Jr 3/47, Chad Soper 3/55, John Reva 2/25, Damien Ravu 1/28) by 76 runs
Papua New Guinea wrapped up the series in the second match, winning comfortably again after posting yet another 300+ total on board and then bowling Hong Kong out for below 200 in their chase. Tony Ura, Charles Amini Jr and Norman Vanua led the way with the bat, scoring half-centuries at quick rate as well. PNG once again were brutal in the final 5 overs of their innings, making 69 runs in them to take the eventual total to 319.
Hong Kong were going ok at 74/1 at one stage in 14 overs, but a mini-collapse saw them go down at 88/4 in no time and it was a uphill task from there to keep up with the asking rate and with wickets falling at regular intervals, the challenge soon met its end with them getting bowled out for 180 in the 46th over.
Brief Scores (02nd Match):
Papua New Guinea 319/8 in 50 overs (Tony Ura 70, Charles Amini Jr 62, Norman Vanua 61 n.o, Sese Bau 32, Raag Kapur 2/39, Ehsan Khan 2/79, Mohammad Ghazanfar 1/47) beat Hong Kong 180 all out in 45.4 overs (Anshuman Rath 33, Waqas Khan 33, Nizakat Khan 23, Damien Ravu 3/35, Lega Siaka 2/25, Assad Vala 1/14, Sese Bau 1/11, Norman Vanua 1/32) by 139 runs
Hong Kong bowlers got their act right in the final match of the series as a collective effort saw them bowl out Papua New Guinea for a below-par score of 163 runs in the 38th over. Hong Kong also stuttered at the beginning of their chase as they were down to 26/5 in the 8th over, but an unbeaten 6th wicket partnership of 141 runs between Waqas Khan and Aizaz Khan sealed the victory for them to avoid a whitewash in the one-day series. Aizaz Khan was unlucky to not get his century as he finished on an unbeaten 98. Earlier, Tanveer Ahmed picked up a 4-wicket haul to be the pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong.
Brief Scores (03rd Match):
Papua New Guinea 163 all out in 37.3 overs (Kipling Doriga 34, Damien Ravu 29 n.o, Tony Ura 26, Tanveer Ahmed 4/30, Mohammad Ghazanfar 2/20, Ehsan Khan 2/12, Aizaz Khan 1/45) lost to Hong Kong 167/5 in 28.5 overs (Aizaz Khan 98 n.o, Waqas Khan 40 n.o, Damien Ravu 3/42, John Reva 1/21, Norman Vanua 1/43) by 5 wickets
