Papua New Guinea qualify for ICC Trophy

Papua New Guinea 176 (Arua Uda 57, Brazier 62) beat Fiji 146 (Maxwell 56, Ilnou Baeau 3-28) by 30 runs
Scorecard

Papua New Guinea have won Division Two of the World Cup Qualifying Series, at the Royal Selangor Club in Malaysia, which gives them a place in the ICC Trophy, the final qualifying competition for the 2007 World Cup. In a match reduced to 33 overs apiece because of rain, PNG's 176 proved 30 too many for Fiji, for whom Neil Maxwell, the former New South Wales player, top-scored with 56.

PNG's total owed much to a third-wicket stand of 91 between Arua Uda, who made 57, and Man of the Match Jamie Brazier, who scored 62. They came together after Kitione Tavo had bowled Kauna Vagi and Mahuru Dai for ducks with successive balls early on. Rarua Dikana Boge (12) was the only other man to reach double figures.

Fiji made a poor start, losing both openers to Ilnou Baeau, who took another late wicket to finish with 3 for 28. Maxwell clobbered three fours and three sixes in his 42-ball innings, but he could not find enough support at the other end, and Fiji were eventually all out with seven balls to spare.