Isuzu T20 Bash 2021

The Board XI, benefitting from a consistent and in form top order, secured victory by eight wickets with 11 balls to spare.

Batting first, the Lewa Legends lost Tanya Frank without scoring and then Puana and Pauke Siaka for single figures were in trouble at 3/13 early in the innings.

Sibona Jimmy (35) and Kaia Arua (34) then batted well together, putting on a 66 run partnership. Isabel Toua contributed an important 19 runs before being run out as the 9th wicket with the Legends score finishing on 111.

The coaching staff, led by National Coach, Carl Sandri, altered the team lists to change the game dynamics; a luxury afforded in this in-house competition.

The theory behind the changes as explained by Sandri was “to essentially try to manipulate the game so we had more contests between the top ranked batsmen and the top ranked bowlers, hopefully creating as much competition as we can between the two skill sets”.

The first game saw the Legends bat first, whose top six replicated the Barras’ last international match.

The morning match between the Lewa Legends and the Lewas CPNG Board XI was an enthralling match with the Legends hanging on for an eight run win.

The Legends won the toss and elected to bat first, opening with Sibona Jimmy and Tanya Frank. They combined for a superb opening partnership of 93 before Jimmy was bowled by Mairi Tom.