Dai powers PNG to five-wicket win over Scotland

Papua New Guinea moved up to second place on the ICC World Cricket League points table after beating Scotland by five wickets in Port Moresby on Sunday (October 8).

PNG’s 204-run chase was largely orchestrated by Mahuru Dai’s all-round performance. He scored a brisk unbeaten 63 as PNG chased down the target in 48 overs with five wickets to spare. He had earlier bowled an economical spell, picking up two wickets for just 19 runs in ten overs.

The chase wasn't easy for PNG though. Its top five batsmen failed to convert their starts. Assad Vala, the captain, made a composed 49 off 73 balls before being caught behind of Alasdair Evans. But Dai took over soon after, slamming ten boundaries in his 54-ball knock as PNG went over the line with two overs to spare.

Evans, the right-arm medium pacer, picked up two wickets, and Mark Watt, the left- arm spinner, along with Michael Leask bowled economical spells, but just couldn’t prise out the remaining PNG wickets.

Earlier, Scotland won the toss and opted to bat, but barring Matthew Cross, the wicket-keeper batsman who made 91 off 120 balls, scoring nearly half of the team’s runs, none of the Scotland batsmen could make substantial contributions. The second highest score for Scotland was 22 by Kyle Coetzer, the captain, and George Munsley as PNG bowlers kept chipping away regularly to bowl Scotland out for 203 in 49.2 overs.

For PNG, Dai was the pick of the bowlers with his leg breaks, and Norman Vanua and John Reva, the medium pacers, too chipped in with two wickets apiece.

With six wins from 12 matches so far, Scotland is placed third in the eight-team table.