HEBOU PNG Barramundis

Batting first, the hosts were at 3/98 before the rain stopped play after only 23 overs bowled.

Jordan Gaud was unbeaten on 44 runs for the NSW XI while Nosiana Pokana (1/7), John Boge Reva (1/8) and Mahuru Dai (1/20) all picked up a wicket for the Barramundis.

Under the Duck-Worth-Lewis System, the Barramundis required 99 runs in just 15 overs.

In their pursuit, the Barramundis lost early wickets that put them deep in trouble at 4/34.

Vani Vagi Morea (22*), Mahuru Dai (16) and Dogodo Bau (10), steadied the innings to push for an unlikely victory.

The 14-man squad will be once again led by Assad Vala. The majority of the squad are Port Moresby based players.

Chad Soper (Sydney, Australia) and Nosiana Pokana (Canberra, Australia) are the only two players in the squad who are based outside PNG.

Soper is currently playing Sydney 1^st Grade Cricket for Gordon CC while Pokana is playing for East Lake CC in Canberra as a part of the Cricket PNG (CPNG) Player Scholarship Program.

Right-arm leg spin bowler from Hanuabada village, Vagi Boko Kora is the only uncapped Barramundis player named in the squad. 

The news was announced by Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull.

The T20 double header will be played on February 15 with the Barramundis to take on ACT XI at 2:30pm followed by the Prime Minister’s XI and Sri Lanka encounter.

Chief Executive Officer for Cricket PNG, Greg Campbell said he was delighted at the opportunity given by Cricket Australia and the Australian Government to be a part of the annual Prime Minister’s XI fixture.

The EAP men’s team, captained by Vanuatu’s National Captain, Andrew Mansale, finished the 50 Over Competition in sixth place with no wins from five matches, while they finished a very respectable second place in the T20 Competition with three wins from five matches.    

The highlights were the three victories against very strong Australian Country Sides in Victoria (by 6 wickets), Western Australian (by 5 wickets) and New South Wales (6 wickets) in rain affected championships, which were EAP’s first victories in the ACCC since 2014. 

In Papua New Guinea, Cricket Australia has entered into agreements with both free-to-air operators for the next two years: NBC PNG for the Australian men’s and women’s internationals, and EMTV for the KFC Big Bash League.

“This is wonderful news for the cricketing loving public of Papua New Guinea, who will now have the opportunity to watch some of the best international cricket on free-to-air TV,” said Cricket PNG Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Greg Campbell.  

The Barramundis started the year with a hard fought defeat in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup (ICUP) and T20 International Series to Ireland, before defeating Kenya at home in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL).

Then they travelled to Australia to compete in the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) Premier League where they finished a very respectable third place on 34 points with four wins, three draws and one loss.

Spinners Anshuman Rath (3/22) and Nadeem Ahmed (3/37) then destroyed the Barras batting attack to seal a comfortable win.

The Barras hit back in the second encounter coming back strongly to beat the hosts by 14 runs yesterday afternoon.

Barras Chad Soper was the key figure in the win with a career best of 6/41 that derailed Hong Kong’s chase of 201 for victory.

Tomorrow’s match will start at the same time at 9:30am (11:30am PNG time).

Barras beat Hong Kong by 14 runs

The Hebou PNG Barramundis beat Hong Kong by 14 runs in today’s One Day International match.

http://www.looppng.com/content/barras-beat-hong-kong-14-runs

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Set 201 for victory, Hong Kong were all bowled out for 187 after 48.1 overs.

It was Chap Soper who was instrumental in the win with figures of 6/41 off his 10 overs.

Shahid Wasif top scored for Hong Kong with 45 runs to his name.

The Barras were in trouble early on in the match when openers Tony Ura (8) and Vani Vagi Morea (1) were dismissed.

Captain Assad Vala steadied the ship, top scoring with 70 runs. He was assisted along the way by Lega Siaka (22) and Sese Bau (40).

But after Vala’s dismissal, wickets continued to fall with the last four batsmen going for 28 runs. 

The Barras were all bowled out after 45.5 overs.

Nadeem Ahmed was his side’s top bowler, taking 4/50.

(File picture)