Mommsen stars as Scotland outclasses PNG

Preston Mommsen, the Scotland captain, led from the front with a 105-ball 94 as Scotland scored a convincing 52-run win over Papua New Guinea in a Super Sixes clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday (January 28).

PNG could muster only 236 all out in 45.1 overs in reply to Scotland’s 288 for 9.

Matthew Cross and Calum MacLeod, the Scotland openers, justified their captain’s decision to bat first at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, providing the team with a solid platform through a 62-run opening stand off 9.4 overs . MacLeod, who made a 31-ball 29, was the first to depart, when he was caught behind off Norman Vanua. Matt Machan was dismissed soon after, as Mommsen joined Cross for a 65-run stand off 80 balls. After Cross (49 off 59 balls) was bowled by Mahuru Dai in the 25th over, Mommsen featured in one more big partnership, adding 86 for the fourth wicket with Freddie Coleman (48), before being caught off Willie Gavera. With Rob Taylor dismissed off the very next ball and the score on 221 for 5 after 39.4 overs, the onus was on Coleman to take Scotland to a big total. Coleman added 25 runs with Richie Berrington and 27 with Michael Leask. He eventually fell in the 48th over, when he was run out by Dai. But, it was enough to help Scotland post a competitive total.

PNG’s bowlers shared the wickets equally, with Raymond Haoda, Norman Vanua, Gavera and Dai accounting for two wickets each. Charles Amini, who returned figures of 10-0-42-0 was the most economical bowler.

In its chase, PNG lost Lega Siaka early, when he was caught off Rob Taylor. Vani Morea , the opener, and Assad Vala then added 62 for the second wicket off 91 balls. However, regular wickets after that saw PNG slide to 169 for 7. A 45-run stand between Dai and Norman Vanua followed, with the latter playing second fiddle, scoring just 6 runs. But Dai’s late blitz – he scored 50 off 29 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes – went in vain.

Taylor was the pick of the bowlers for Scotland, taking 3 for 45 off 9.1 overs. He found help from Majid Haq, the offspinner, who also took three wickets to finish with 3 for 52 off nine. Iain Wardlaw, who opened the bowling for Scotland, Safyaan Sharif and MacLeod took a wicket each.