PNG wins Pepsi ICC EAP Division 1
PNG has won the Pepsi ICC East-Asia Pacific Division 1 capping off a flawless tournament with a comprehensive 58 run victory over Vanuatu in the final at Amini Park in Port Moresby.
The win on home soil for the Barramundi's was an historic occasion for cricket in PNG and their captain Rarua Dikana was delighted his players could provide the large crowd in attendance with a result fitting of a side who has been a class above the competition this week.
"It is a huge achievement for the country especially considering all of the development work going on," he said. "I'm glad we could do this for everyone involved in cricket in PNG."
PNG took advantage of several early dropped catches and missed run out opportunities to set the imposing total of 5-195. In reply Vanuatu could only manage 137.
After a cautious first couple of overs including a difficult catch dropped by Andrew Mansale that would have dismissed Assad Vala, PNG quickly stepped it up a gear racing to 0-52 in the 5th over. However soon after Jelany Chila claimed the prize scalp of Vala and Vanuatu found new enthusiasm to briefly slow the run rate.
Tony Ura and Chris Amini didn't take long to get their eye in however and once again built the foundations of a big PNG total as they started sending a number of Vanuatu deliveries beyond the boundary. The score was 103 from 10 overs when a piece of Andrew Mansale magic cleaned bowled Ura for 48.
Despite the dismissal of the two leading run scorers in the tournament Ura and Vala, Vanuatu quickly learned the depth the PNG side possess as Mahuru Dai and Jason Kila exploded into action in the middle stages of the innings.
No one was safe as balls were lofted into all areas of crowd thanks to some of the cleanest hitting seen all week. Eventually Kila was dismissed off the last ball of the innings for 35 and PNG set Vanuatu 196 for victory. Patrick Matautaava was the best of the bowlers for Vanuatu with 2-41.
Vanuatu was steady early in their reply with Laz Carlot and Lenica Natapei safely seeing off the first four overs for their side. However the loss of three quick wickets including captain Mansale ended all hope of a Vanuatu upset.
Simpson Obed fought hard in the middle stages of the chase with a couple of big sixes over mid-wicket before he was beautifully stumped by Jack Vare off the bowling of Dai for 31.
Trevor Langa and Patrick Matautaava then ensured Vanuatu could take more than a few positives away from the defeat with some big hitting themselves to guide their country to the respectable total of 7-137.
Langa was eventually dismissed for 28 while Matautaava was out for 36. For PNG it was a tremendous team effort with the ball as the Barramundi's had four different wicket-takers. Joel Tom was the best of them with 3-31.
For Vanuatu despite the loss they walk away with their best ever finish at an East-Asia Pacific event and their captain Andrew Mansale says it was a good week for his side.
"We are very proud, sure we lost today but we are just so proud of the performance the boys put in," he said. "If we can keep this side together for five or six more years we will be much better."
Tony Ura was awarded man of the match for his top score of 48 to top off an amazing tournament for the 21-year-old.
The tournament leading run scorer was PNG's Assad Vala who scored 372 runs at an average of 62.00 narrowly beating home teammate Tony Ura who scored 354 runs at an average of 59.00.
The leading wicket taker was Iniasi Cakacaka from Fiji who took 9 wickets at an average of 10.44. He beat home Vanuatu's Patrick Matautaava who also took 9 wickets at an average of 17.89.
Brief scores:
At Amini Park: PNG 5-195, 20 overs (T Ura 48, J Kila 35; P Matautaava 2-41)
Vanuatu 7-137, 20 overs (P Matautaava 36, S Obed 31; J Tom 3-31)
PNG won by 58 runs