Papua New Guinea qualifies for ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup

Papua New Guinea (PNG) returned to the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup when it qualified for next year's event in Malaysia after defeating Vanuatu in the final of the ICC EAP U/19 Qualifier in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Sunday.

Tony Ura and Arua Dikana hit sparkling half centuries and fast bowler Loa Nou took 4-22 to steer PNG to a comfortable 104-run victory over the hosts in front of almost 400 spectators at the Kazaa Field.

The victory helped PNG return to the main event - set for 17 February to 2 March 2008 - after it missed out on the 2006 and 2000 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups, both in Sri Lanka.

PNG participated in three events, held in South Africa in 1998, New Zealand in 2002 and Bangladesh in 2004, and has played 18 matches but is yet to win at the top table.

Sunday's success makes PNG the first of five Associate and Affiliate teams to earn tickets to Malaysia from the regional qualifying tournaments. The European U/19 Qualifier starts in Belfast from Monday, the Americas U/19 Qualifier takes place in Toronto from 13-18 August, the Asian U/19 Qualifier is staged in Malaysia from 20-29 August and the Africa U/19 Qualifier will be in Benoni from 25-30 August.

PNG captain Colin Amini hailed his side's success when he said: "It is a great achievement for us. We were determined to win the final and qualify for the (ICC U/19 Cricket) World Cup. I am delighted that we have accomplished our mission.

"The victory is a result of a complete team effort and every player deserves a pat on the back. I am sure the country will be proud of our achievement," he added.

Amini said his team will quickly switch its attention to the next year's main event. "For the moment it is celebration time but we will soon start our preparations for the main round. To play against more experienced, established and formidable teams will be a huge challenge and we will prepare ourselves as best as we can so that we take them head on."

PNG, batting first after winning the toss, made a sluggish start when it lost both its openers by the time the score reached 22.

At that stage Ura and Dikana joined forces and the duo put on 112 runs for the third wicket that, at the end of the day, proved to be decisive.

After the partnership was broken with the dismissal of Ura, PNG suffered a sensational collapse as it lost its last eight wickets for 73 runs to be bowled out for 207 in 48.2 overs.

Ura stroked a fine 74 from 88 balls with 11 fours and a six while Dikana scored a watchful and patient 53 from 121 balls with five fours and a six. Joel Tom was the other main run-getter with a rapid 16-ball 22 with two sixes.

For Vanuatu, fast bowler After the partnership was broken with the dismissal of Ura, PNG suffered a sensational collapse as it lost its last eight wickets for 71 runs to be bowled out for 207 in 48.2 overs.

Ura stroked a fine 74 from 88 balls with 11 fours and a six while Dikana scored a watchful and patient 53 from 121 balls with five fours and a six. Joel Tom was the other main run-getter with a rapid 16-ball 22 with two sixes.

For Vanuatu, fast bowler Johnathan Dunn bowled extremely well and took 4-53 while captain Andrew Mansale picked up 3-39 and Victor Aru bagged 2-30.

Vanuatu, in its chase, never recovered after losing four frontline batsmen by the time the score reached 16 and it was eventually bowled out for 103 in 38.4 overs. Mansale, who slammed 157 against Japan, top scored with a 103-ball 42.

For PNG, fast bowler Loa Nou bowled exceptionally well and had figures of 10-3-22-4. Toua Gavera took 2-29 while Jason Kila and Jacob Mado claimed one wicket each.

In the third and fourth placed play-off match at Club Hippique, Fiji beat Japan by 10 wickets. Japan, batting first, was bowled out for 35 with Viliame Yabaki and Tukana Tavo taking four wickets each conceding four and 12 runs respectively.

Fiji achieved the victory target from 18 balls with Josefa Rika, who scored 257 against the same team in the league match, hitting 28 not out from 10 balls with two fours and two sixes.

The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup is a vital part of the ICC Development Program and provides a vehicle for the best young cricketers in the world to parade their skills.

Many of the future stars of the game experience their first true international exposure at this tournament and players such as Brian Lara, Michael Atherton, Yuvraj Singh, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Cairns, Michael Clarke, Graeme Smith and Sanath Jayasuriya have used the event as a stepping stone to full international honours.

First staged in Australia in 1988, the tournament was initially organised on an occasional basis, but since the commencement of the ICC Development Program in 1997 it has become a biennial fixture.

The 2010 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup will be held in Kenya while the 2012 tournament will be staged in Canada and UAE will host the 2014 edition.