The City Pharmacy PNG Lewas lost their third match of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier at the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Ground narrowly by seven (7) runs yesterday.
After winning the toss and sending Scotland into bat on another hot and humid day in Colombo, the City Pharmacy PNG Lewas bowled out Scotland for 169 off the last ball of the innings.
Scholes (35) and Priddle (31) were the best of the Scotland batters, while Lewas captain, Pauke Siaka, picked up career-best 6/19 in just seven overs. Norma Ovasuru, Mairi Tom and Kaia Arua also took a wicket each.
In reply, the Lewas got off to a brilliant start with Tanya Ruma (32) and Brenda Tau (46) putting on 72 runs for the opening wicket in 23.3 overs before Ruma was run-out again.
Ruma’s wicket saw Siaka come to the crease, before departing when the score reached 89 runs.
A steady fall of wickets in the middle order saw the Lewas collapse to 5/106 when Tau was eventually dismissed in the 39th over.
Unfortunately the Pacific Island nation could not recover and was eventually dismissed for 162 in the 50th over.
The City Pharmacy PNG Lewas had a rest day yesterday before taking on another cricketing powerhouse, South Africa, today (February 13) at NCC in their final pool match of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier.
The Lewas are currently sitting in last place in Pool B after failing to secure any victories in their three matches.
They lost to Pakistan in their second match on Friday by 236 runs.
They will be one of the ten teams taking part in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier from the 7-21st February, 2017, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The tournament will see the bottom four sides from the ICC Women’s Championship along with Bangladesh, Ireland, Thailand, Scotland, Zimbabwe and the City Pharmacy PNG Lewas go head to head for the four remaining spots in the ICC Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom. This is from 26th June to 23rd July, 2017.
The ten sides competing in Colombo will be divided into two groups of five, with the top three from each progressing to the Super Six stage, thus securing One-Day International (ODI) status until the next ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier.
The City Pharmacy PNG Lewas are in Group B along with South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Scotland.
The top four sides from the Super Six stage will qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 as well as for the next ICC Women’s Championship, while the top two sides will contest the final on 21 February.
(File picture)