PNG defeat Sri Lanka Emerging Side
The Hebou PNG Barramundi's opened their Sri Lanka Tour with a hard fought five wicket victory over the Sri Lanka emerging squad in Colombo yesterday.
Captain Chris Amini won the toss and elected to bowl first in a delayed match due to early morning rain.
The match was delayed by two hours to allow for the pitch to dry.
It was a dominating performance by the Barramundi batsmen as they out smarted the experience first class cricketers in their hometown.
PNG's classy left hand batsmen Assad Vala led the batting onslaught for the Barramundi boys scoring a stylish hard hitting 61 in 38 balls at an impressive strike rate of 160.53 to set the victory.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan emerging batsmen showed class to post a challenging 169 in 20 overs.
PNG opening bowlers Pipi Raho and Willie Gavera got off to a loose start allowing Sri Lanka to race to 21 off the first two overs.
Pipi Raho quickly recovered and took the first wicket for the Barramundi's with the score at 21 in the 3rd over.
Kabua Vagi was introduced and quickly took a wicket and the Sri Lankans were looking shaky at 2 for 29.
A brief 3rd Wicket partnership of 34 for by P Waduge and R Buddhika brought the Sri Lankan total to 3/68 before Waduge departed for nine.
They then lost a couple more wickets and were 5/111 after 15 overs. Some late hitting by the Y Lanka who remained 59 of 41 balls and L Abeyrathne scoring a quick 22 of 12 balls carried the Sri Lankan total to an impressive 169.
PNG's innings was built on a strong foundation set by the opening pair of Assad Vala and Tony Ura.
The pair put on a partnership of 71 before Ura got out stumped by a deceiving spin ball in the 9th over for 26.
Vala continued his onslaught and was ably supported by Charles Amini Junior who chipped in with 27. Vala was eventually caught on the boundary for 61 off 38 balls.
His departure begen a mini collapse when Vani Vagi Morea was stumped trying to keep the run rate ticking over. This left PNG with work to do at 3/124 in the 16th over.
Young Lega Siaka (14 of 9 balls) paired with his PNG U/19 world cup team mate Charles Amini and the pair put on a handy partnership of 23 before Siaka was caught behind and PNG still nmeeded a further 20 runs.
Charles Amini followed shortly after with the score 5/152 after 18.5 overs.
Needing 18 runs off seven balls Gavera was promoted up the order to face the last ball of the 19th over. This decision paid immediate dividends when Gavera smacked his first ball for a massive six (6) to put the equation back in favour of the the visitors.
PNG now required 12 runs of the last 6 balls with established batsman/wicket keeper Jack Vare on strike.
The first ball of the last over went for two before Vare smashed the second for a huge six. This left only four runs to get off four deliveries.
A leg by and a bye were conceded in the next two deliveries before Vare smacked the ball through the midwicket for four to ensure victory for PNG with one ball to spare.
Vare remained 18 of 7 balls and Gavera 6 of two balls.
PNG Head Coach, Peter Anderson was ecstatic with the performance.
"The guys should be very proud and happy with the way they played today. The Batting was impressive in the run chase especially Assad and Tony giving a strong foundation. Guys were on fire right from ball one. Assad just seems to get better and better every time. He has been the shining light with the bat all season and he showed his class again today. All the guys have worked hard for this and we're travelling in the right direction at the moment," said Anderson.
"However, the bowling and fielding were bit scrappy today but I will make sure to put high emphasis on our fielding standards to balance up all aspects of our game."
The PNG Hebou Barramundis will play its second T/20 match tomorrow against the emerging side followed by a 50 over match on Saturday.
Summary:
PNG 5/172, 19.5 overs defeated Sri Lanka Emerging 6/169, 20 overs.
Bowling ? Pipi Raho 1/41, Kabua Vagi 1/19, Joel Tom 1/12, Charles Amini Jnr 2/35, Jason Kila 1/15.
Batting ? Assad Vala 61, Tony Ura 27, Charles Amini 27, Lega Siakan 14, Jack Vare 18