DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS EVENTS // ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2019 EAST-ASIA PACIFIC QUALIFIER
67
PNG MOVE A STEP CLOSER TO AUSTRALIA 2020
Tony Ura became the first PapuaNewGuinea batsman to score a T20I century as his side continued on their upward path
Hosts Papua New Guinea emerged as the winners of the East Asia-Pacific regional qualifier finals to advance to the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October and November 2019.
Before the last day of matches, PNG and Vanuatu were both in contention to top the round-robin table and thereby qualify, following the elimination of the Philippines, who had won the East Asia-Pacific Group B sub-regional qualifier the previous August.
The tournament suffered following the effects of Cyclone Trevor, which meant that fixtures on the opening two days at the Amini Park ground in Port Moresby could not be played due to a waterlogged pitch, causing the schedule to be rearranged.
Indeed, both matches on the last day were reduced to five overs and 13 overs per side respectively.
Both involved Vanuatu, who needed to win both to pip PNG to the qualifying position.
However, in the five-over thrash against Philippines, they were unable to chase down a target of 47 and their 10-run defeat meant the result of the final match was academic.
In the event, Papua New Guinea ran out comfortable 10-wicket winners after Vanuatu were restricted to 56 for eight in their 13 overs, the hosts requiring just three overs to reach their
target as Tony Ura hit 24 off just eight deliveries, with two sixes, and opening partner Norman Vanua raced to 29 from 10 balls with three sixes.
Papua New Guinea had won their opening two matches, both by large margins, beginning with a 133-run defeat of Philippines after Assad Vala’s 68 from 39 balls and Charles Amini’s 60 from 30 helped them reach 216 for four in their 20 overs, their opponents struggling to 83 for eight in reply.
In their second match, Tony Ura’s 65 off 37 balls was the key contribution in an eight-wicket win over Vanuatu, who were limited to 124 for six. Ura became the first Papua New Guinea batsman to make a century in their third match, finishing on 107 not out from 60 balls with six sixes and four fours. However, rain caused the abandonment of the match after just two overs of the Philippines reply, which meant there was no result.
Vanuatu had recorded their one win in the tournament earlier in the day, beating Philippines by 63 runs. Nalin Nipiko top-scored with 62 in their 20-over total of 156 for six, with Philippines limited to 93 for seven, Nipiko chipping in with two wickets to go with his half-century.
Seamer Nipiko’s five wickets in the tournament was bettered only by Papua New Guinea’s Lega Siaka with seven. The top scorer was Ura with 243 runs at an average of 121.50, while Nipiko’s 124 runs at 41.33 was the next biggest contribution with the bat.
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