Improved PNG go down in second 50 over match against Sri Lanka Emerging
A much improved and brace PNG has gone down to the Sri Lankan Emerging team in a 50 over match in Colombo.
This was the Barramundi's fifth (5th) match of the tour against the highly fancied Sri Lankan outfit and they have won 1 and lost 4 so far.
The fifth match was the second 50 over game against the Sri Lankan Emerging side which boasted Sri Lankan first class cricketers and test and ODI players.
PNG skipper Chris Amini won the toss and elected to bat first in a gallant performance from the Pacific islanders. The Barramundi?s were bowled out for 10/211 in 46 overs with the home team chasing down the runs with five wickets in the 35th over.
Early in the PNG innings opening batsmen Assad Vala scored a handy 30 to continue his good form with the bat but little support was given to him by his fellow top order batsmen as PNG slumped to 6/83.
Jason Kila and Charles Amini junior paired up and put in a small partnership of 14 to start to rebuild the PNG batting before Amini Junior (19) too lost his wicket.
At 7/97 Jason Kila and John Boge Reva then put on a brave 8th wicket partnership of 40 runs under strong pressure. Kila and B Reva played with more purpose and intent and tried to put pressure back onto the bowlers with some positive shots and placing in their batting.
A brief halt to the match due to a private Helicopter landing on the middle of the field disrupted the momentum for the PNG pair. When play resumed after a 20 minutes delay John Boge Reva(14) was bowled with the very first ball and PNG were 8/137 after 36 overs. Number 10 batsmen Joel Tom (2) soon followed and PNG were 9/148.
A last wicket partnership of 63 between Jason Kila 60 (off 68 balls) and Norman Vanua 37 (off 31 balls) took the total to a respectable 211.
The Sri Lankan side were rarely troubled in the as the opening pair D Gunathilake and ML Udawatte both Sri Lankan ODI players smashed 160 runs in 27 overs before Gunathilake (62) holed an easy catch to Kabua Vagi at long on off the bowling of Chris Amini. Udawatte hung around and played sensibly before he missed timed one and was caught at Gully for 94 (off 90 balls).
The Sri Lankans lost a further 3 wickets in the latter stages but the damage had already being done. They reached the PNG Barramundi?s target of 211 in 38 over?s with the loss of 5 wickets.
The PNG Hebou Barramundis will play their last game in a 2 day match against the SL Emerging squad on Friday and Saturday to wrap up their Sri Lanka tour before travelling home on Sunday.
Summary: Hebou PNG Barramundi's 10/211 (45 overs) defeated by SL Emerging side 5/212.
Batting - Jason Kila 60, Norman Vanua 37, Chris Amini 19, Charles Amini 18.
Bowling - Willie Gavera 2/38 (7overs), Lega Siaka 2/7 (2 overs), Charles Amini 1/24 (3 overs).