24 hours after losing against the host’s Namibia in a low-scoring thriller, Papua New Guinea brought back their WCL Division 2 campaign back on track with a hard-fought 3-wicket victory over Hong Kong at United Cricket Club ground in Windhoek.
https://youtu.be/2935m-MbPpY
PNG and Hong Kong know each other’s strengths and weakness at the back of their heads, having met in the 50-overs format around 8 times before this match in the past 8 months (matches includes the bi-lateral tours of each other in 2018 and 2 warm-up games in South Africa prior to travelling to Namibia) and it showed in the result as both camps played good cricket over the duration of the game.
Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath once again led with the bat after a brilliant century against Canada with a 98 ball innings of 85, taking his tournament average thus far to 199!! PNG bowlers, however, brought the team back into the game in the final 15-20 overs of Hong Kong innings to restrict them to 222/9 in their 50 overs, with Nosaina Pokana, Damien Ravu and Charles Amini picking up 2-wickets each.
Tony Ura smashed a 101-ball 87 runs to kick-start PNG’s reply and in the support of Assad Vala (25), was going well before Ehsan Khan derailed their innings a bit with a 4-wicket spell to bring Hong Kong back into the match. PNG were in a spot of bother at 163/6 in the 38th over but a crucial 57 runs partnership for the 7th wicket between Chad Soper (22) and Jason Kila (36 n.o), took them to victory almost when Soper got out with only 2 runs needed for victory, which Kila and John Reva completed to get the crucial 2 points on board for the Barramundis.
Brief Scores:
Hong Kong 222/9 in 50 overs (Anshuman Rath 85, Ahsan Abbasi 37, Tanwir Afzal 24, Kinchit Shah 22, Damien Ravu 2/35, Charles Amini 2/36, Nosaina Pokana 2/40, Assad Vala 1/25) lost to Papua New Guinea 223/7 in 47.4 overs (Tony Ura 87, Jason Kila 36 n.o, Assad Vala 25, Chad Soper 22, Ehsan Khan 4/36, Aizaz Khan 2/39) by 3 wickets
