PNG dominate Namibia in high-scoring game

Half-centuries from Lega Siaka, Sese Bau and Dogodo Bau were vital for Papua New Guinea to recover from early setbacks and beat Namibia by five wickets. That left Craig Williams on the losing side despite making an unbeaten century that helped set 273 on the board in their World Cricket League match in Port Moresby.

Both he and his team would have been confident of their chances, especially after they had reduced PNG to 30 for 2 in the fifth over. A period of stabilisation followed with Siaka at the helm, but his 61-run partnership with captain Assad Vala was broken in the 12th over and the chase came down to the strength of their middle order.

That's where Sese, who was playing only his sixth List A game, and Dogodo, on debut, came in and shut out Namibia. Sese made 76 off 98 balls, despite scoring only three fours and one six. Dogodo was a bit more fond of finding the boundary - his unbeaten 80 off 74 included eight fours, the last two off successive balls ushered victory for PNG in the 48th over.

In contrast, Namibia's innings was set up by their top order. Opener Wian van Vuuren made 60 off 98 balls while their No. 4 Williams smashed 109 off 89 balls, with seven fours and five sixes. It was his seventh hundred in List A cricket, on the steam of which Namibia plundered 87 off their last 45 balls.

In a high-scoring match, PNG's Mahuru Dai gave away just 24 runs in his 10 overs, in addition to a wicket. Chad Soper, who opened the bowling, finished with 1 for 36.

PNG are third on the points table with five wins from seven games. Namibia are in seventh spot above only UAE, with one win from seven games. The two teams play each other on Sunday at the same venue.