Scholtz takes 11 but PNG sights victory

Bernard Scholtz bettered his first-innings performance with an even more splendid show in the second innings, but even his 6 for 65 couldn’t prevent Papua New Guinea from moving to within two wickets of victory in its Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia at Amini Park, Port Moresby on Tuesday (October 18).

At stumps on the third day, Namibia was 112 for 8 in 45.5 overs, having been set a steep target of 355. There is a whole day’s play left in which PNG can take the two wickets it needs, while Namibia is still 243 runs away from victory.

Scholtz was batting on 9, with Wian van Vuuren on 7, and Namibia only had Colin Peake, the No.11, to come.

Scholtz had earlier improved on his first-innings haul of 5 for 105 to end with match figures of 11 for 170. His efforts meant PNG was bowled out for 189 in 57 overs, having resumed on four without loss after leading by 165 on the first innings. Vani Morea, the opener, top-scored with 65 and held the first half of the innings together, but from a reasonable 67 for 1, PNG lost wickets in a clump to be reduced to 117 for 7, Scholtz doing most of the damage.

Chad Soper contributed 35 not out from No. 8, while John Reva made 20 from No. 9 to stretch the total with useful lower-order stands, but Namibia’s bowlers had much better returns than in the first innings to keep PNG’s eventual total down to below 200.

However, PNG’s bowlers continued the good form that had seen them bowl Namibia out for 146 in the first innings, hunting in a pack. Namibia was 14 for 4 in the fifth over, having lost all top four batsmen, two of them for ducks. Norman Vanua, who had 3 for 39 in the first innings, was in the mix once again, and has so far taken 3 for 21 in 10 overs.

Lega Siaka, the other first-innings bowling hero, has 2 for 26, with the remaining wickets shared around. For Namibia, JP Kotze top-scored with 36 at No. 5, but the only other man to get into double figures was JJ Smit, who made 17. With the paucity of runs from the rest of the batsmen, Namibia found itself in trouble.

PNG will believe it’s only a matter of time before it can pick up the two remaining wickets on the final day and move up the points table. At present, both PNG and Namibia are on 20 points from three matches and in the bottom half of the eight-team table, with UAE the only team below them.

For full scorecard of the match, click here.