PNG defend 116 for consolation win

Papua New Guinea completed a consolation win in the third T20 against Ireland in Townsville, after successfully defending a score of 116. Seamer Chad Soper did the star turn picking up 3 for 13 to bowl Ireland out for 105 in the final over.

The openers fell within four overs of the chase, but Niall O'Brien and Gary Wilson, who was named captain on his 200th appearance for Ireland, held on for a 31-run partnership. Wilson became the fifth man to play 200 games for Ireland after Kevin O'Brien (257), Andrew White (231), Kyle McCallan (226) and the resting regular captain William Porterfield (217).

Wilson could not celebrate his landmark with a win because, just like in the first innings, the bowlers dominated the middle overs to leave Ireland tottering at 80 for 8, and then bundled them out for 105.

PNG, who had been beaten 0-2 prior to this game, did not start well though. They managed a 26-run opening stand before being quickly reduced to 28 for 3, at which point, Sese Bau and Mahuru Dai strung 48 runs together to keep PNG in the contest.

They lost another clump of wickets, as Ireland's bowlers chipped away to leave them 90 for 7. Charles Amini's run-a-ball 24 helped PNG take 26 off the last three overs to guide them to 116 for 8. Ireland seamer Tim Murtagh, who is making a comeback to T20 cricket after opting to retire in May 2015, picked up three wickets for 23.