An inspired bowling performance from PNG bowlers almost had them winning their match against Ireland in the 13th place play-off in the U19 World Cup. In the end, Ireland prevailed to emerge victorious by 3 wickets in a low-scoring affair in Rangiora.
Igo Mahuru (45 off 83) and Heagi Toua (39 off 55) were the top-scorers for Papua New Guinea and their 78 runs partnership for the 4th wicket raised hopes for PNG to post a bigger total after they had a top-order collapse to get reduced to 22/3 in the 6th over.
However, after Toua’s dismissal in the 26th over, the innings wrapped up in quick time as PNG lost their last 7 wickets for only 21 runs as they got bowled for only 121 runs in 37.1 overs with Jonathan Garth (4/18) & Harry Tector (3/32) causing all the damage for PNG with Joshua Little (2/18) also getting into the wickets list with good economical bowling figures.
Ireland U19 were in all sorts of trouble as they got reduced to 38/4 in the 14th over with James Tau (4/45) causing all the wreckage at the top of the innings. Daure Aiga (1/19 off 10) bowled brilliantly to keep the pressure on the batsmen from one end along with Tau.
A vital 33 runs partnership for the 5th wicket between Jamie Grassi (24 off 67) and Neil Rock (43 off 76) steadied the innings and after Grassi’s dismissal in the 27th over, Graham Kennedy (17 off 50) combined with Rock to forge a 45 runs partnership for the 6th wicket, which took Ireland to 116 before 2 quick wickets of Rock and Joshua Little pegged back the Irish at 117/7. However, PNG would have liked atleast 25-30 runs more in the bag to cause an upset victory but could only managed to delay the inevitable for few more balls as Ireland reached 122/7 in 41.5 overs to win the match by 3 wickets.
Ireland now meet Namibia for the 13th/14th place play-off in the U19 World Cup.
