PNG make it 2 out of 2 against EAP

The PNG Scholarship players have made it two wins out of two after another comprehensive victory against the East Asia-Pacific players who are training at the Centre of Excellence.

EAP captain Joe Rika (Fiji) won the toss and elected to bat on another fine day at Runaway Bay Cricket Club's home ground.

Once again the new ball pairing of Toua Tom and Norman Vanua set the tone for the innings with their accurate bowling proving to be a handful as they ripped through the EAP top order.

Tom and Vanua continued their impressive run with the ball finishing with the impressive figures of 2/8 (6 overs) and 1/8 (6 overs) respectively.

Skipper Chris Amini chipped in with 2/18 (6 overs) and had great support from spinners Jason Kila 1/24 (10 overs) and Tony Ura 3/22 (5.1 overs) as they cleaned up the rest of the EAP batsman for 129 off 44.1 overs.

Things could have been worse for the EAP side if it wasn't for Vanuatu skipper, Andrew Mansale who scored an amazing 90 (107 balls).

Mansale looked comfortable against the disciplined PNG attack to lead from the front and help EAP get to 129.

With a below-par score to defend, the key for EAP bowlers was to get early wickets. They did that thanks to in-form young PNG left-arm bowler, Kabua Vagi Morea who bowled an impressive 10 straight overs to finish with outstanding figures of 2/13.

His two wickets included Sese Bau (4) and the dangerous Tony Ura (5) in the first couple overs when PNG were in trouble at 2/17. However, skipper Chris Amini (25) and Assad Vala (62) weathered the storm and then built a solid partnership to help them race to 90 before Amini was caught at mid-off.

Vala then followed suit for a well-made 62, but by then the damage had already been done. Lega Siaka (13) and Jason Kila (10) finished proceedings to hand PNG another comfortable victory by six wickets after 36.4 overs.

The EAP and PNG men will have a training session tomorrow morning with former England International, Graeme Hick.

Thursday will see PNG play EAP in two T20 matches at the Runaway Bay Sporting Ground.