PNG women's scholarship update round 6
The women on the PNG Pacific MMI Women's Scholarship completed another successful weekend after impressive performances with the bat and ball for Palm Beach Currumbin CC 5th Grade (Men's competition) on Saturday and then backed up to dominate again for the Gold Coast Dolphins on Sunday.
Saturdays match saw the women play for Palm Beach Currumbin Maroon 5th grade in the Gold Coast Men's competition.
After losing their 1st game of the season in the last over (chasing 213 off 35 overs against Coomera, Palm Beach were bowled out in the last over to lose by 5 runs) they bounced back to win their first game of the season last weekend over Mudgeeraba-Nerang with the PNG women all having a hand in the win.
The women continued their good form as they brushed aside Queens CC on the weekend with an emphatic 8-wicket win. Tanya Ruma opened the bowling for Palm Beach and returned with impressive figures of 1 for 16 off her 5 over spell and beat the batsmen countless times.
The opening bowlers created the early breakthroughs and had the opposition reeling at 4 for 26. Pauke Siaka was introduced into the attack and struck immediately as she starred with the ball, taking 3 for 10 off 5 overs to bundle Queens out for 53 after 19.4 overs. Siaka has now taken 8 wickets at an average of 13.38 from 4 games this season and is the equal leading wicket taker in the 5th grade competition as well as for Palm Beach CC.
The girls' fielding has been a stand out all season and this game was no different with Kaia Arua claiming her first run out victim of the season. Norma Ovasuru took 4 catches behind the wicket as a stand-in wicket keeper including a great leg side catch off Pauke's bowling.
Palm Beach passed the score quite easily with the loss of only two wickets in the 14th over. Pauke Siaka scored a quick fire 11 and Norma Ovasuru was six not out when Palm Beach passed the score. Palm Beach is now two wins from four games and sit 5th on the ladder.
On Sunday the women dominated once again after Gold Coast Dolphins recorded their sixth consecutive victory to remain undefeated thus far to stay atop of the ladder. The Dolphins swept the University women aside with ease after restricting them to 8/103 at the completion of the 35 overs.
Pauke Siaka and Kaia Arua bowled well to claim a wicket a piece. Tanya Ruma starred with the bat as they chased down 103 inside 27 overs with the loss of only 2 wickets. Ruma top scored with 47 whilst Norma Ovasuru was unbeaten on 7.