Papua New Guinea (PNG) have become the first entry from the regional final qualifiers to get into the global qualifiers for 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Oct/Nov 2019 in UAE. PNG won 3 of their 4 completed games against Vanuatu and Philippines to finish on top of the points table followed by Philippines, who finished 2nd after winning their first ever T20I in the morning game on the final day of action from Amini Park in Port Moresby.
The final day of group stage matches saw both the morning and afternoon games played out in shortened overs, with the match between Philippines and Vanuatu reduced to 5-over-a-side game, while the afternoon match between Vanuatu and PNG reduced to 13-overs-a-side game.
WATCH: Philippines celebrate victory after beating Vanuatu by 10 runs in a low-scoring Match 5 of the ICC Men's T20WC EAP Regional Final. pic.twitter.com/EyhJrt8zcn
— ICC (@ICC) March 24, 2019
Tony Ura finished as the tournament top-scorer with 243 runs from 4 matches including his maiden T20I century (107 n.o), coming against Philippines. Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko scored 2 half-centuries with a tally of 124 runs to his name from 4 matches. Lega Siaka finished as the tournament top wicket-taker with 7 wickets to his name from 4 matches, followed by Nalin Nipiko with 5 wickets from 4 matches.
Nalin Nipiko was adjudged as the player of the tournament for the qualifiers.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Regional Final Standings:
Team |
Matches |
Won |
Lost |
No result |
Points |
NNR |
PNG |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
5.499 |
Philippines |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
-4.133 |
Vanuatu |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
-1.063 |