PNG hold on in thriller

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Cricket Team held on for a hard fought victory against the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Regional Team in the second match of the 3-match series.

After faltering with the bat in the first match of the series, the QAS opening batsmen begin cautiously against Hitolo Areni (1 for 45 off 9 overs) and 18 year old debutant Loa Nou (1 for 22 off 9). The pair absorbed some disciplined bowling from the PNG attack, slowly taking the score to 63 before the spin off Mahuta Kivung (1 for 35 off 9) broke through in the 26th over.

With the score at 3 for 143 at the end of the 40th over the QAS were set to make a final assault in the final 10 overs of the innings. PNG had other ideas though as Captain Rarua Dikana cleverly rotated his bowlers with good effect. Areni, Nou, Chris Amini (1 for 24 off 7) and Jamie Brazier (3 for 38 off 6) all claimed wickets as the QAS middle order scraped through to 8 for 214 off their allocated overs. Some sloppy ground fielding costing PNG valuable runs towards the end of the QAS innings.

Veteran PNG opening batsman Arua Uda (21 runs off 29 balls) took a back seat to first gamer Piki Ravusiro (76 off 107) who kick started the PNG innings in explosive fashion. The pair raced to 45 off 8 before Uda fell victim to a rising ball from Matthew Jensen.

Ravusiro and John Ovia (18 off 41) withstood a fiery spell from Jensen who tested both batsmen out with several well targeted short deliveries. First game hero Jamie Brazier (20 off 17) provided a brief spark after Ovia departed and at 3 for 125 off 30 overs, PNG appeared to have the game in control.

The introduction of left arm seamers Byron Thicke and Preston White brought immediate success for the QAS as both made crucial breakthroughs to see PNG tentatively poised at 8 for 202 off 47 overs. With 18 balls remaining PNG required a further 13 runs for victory, a task easily achieved by most teams in the modern era.

The loss of Mahuru Dai (31 off 55) left PNG's fate in the hands of tailenders Areni and Nou. Requiring 7 runs for victory off the final over the odds had shifted in favour of the QAS. Areni remained calm under pressure lofting off-spinner Andrew Martel over cover for 4 before again hitting over the infield to secure a hard fought victory for PNG.

PNG lead the 3-match series 2-0. Both teams return to Gill Park on Monday 7 May for the final match of the series.