PNG heartbreak in semi-final loss
Papua New Guinea (PNG) today succumbed to Uganda by 1 wicket in a thrilling Semi Final encounter
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PNG Captain Rarua Dikana won the toss and elected to bat in perfect conditions at Tracey Village.
Buoyed by their return to form against Italy, the PNG opening batsmen started positively before Frank Doura (3 off 10 balls) was run out via a direct hit.
Uganda bowled impressively throughout the first 15 overs and were rewarded for their efforts as PNG slumped to 4/32.
A partnership of 68 from John Ovia (43 off 98) and Mahuru Dai (86 off 93) kept the match alive for PNG as the number 1 seeds moved to 4/105 after 35 overs.
Ovia's dismissal brought 18-year-old Assad Vala (40 not out off 43) to the crease who combined with Dai to push PNG's total to 5/158 off 45 overs.
The final 5 overs reaped a further 45 runs for PNG with Vala and Dai both finding the boundaries regularly.
Set 204 for victory, Uganda were 1/0 when Hitolo Areni (2/39 off 8 overs) struck on the first ball of the innings. The Ugandan top order struck back emphatically blasting 75 off the first 13 overs before the introduction of off-spinner Jamie Brazier (4/17 off 10) netted 2 quick wickets.
Brazier and fellow spinner John Ovia (3/41 off 9.2) brought PNG right back into the game as the tension built leading into the final 10 overs.
With 7 wickets down and requiring a further 54 runs for victory, Uganda's hopes rested with explosive all-rounder Keneth Kamyuka. Brazier and Ovia both claimed vital wickets as the match went down to the wire however when Kamyuka blasted 11 runs off the penultimate over the match had slipped from PNG's grasp.
Uganda collected the final 3 runs off the first 2 balls of the final over and in doing so progressed to the Final of the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 event and secured their position in ICC World Cricket League Division 2 to be played in Namibia later this year.
A disappointed PNG team will now face the Cayman Islands on Saturday 2 June in the play-off for third place. Both teams will remain in ICC World Cricket League Division 3 and will have to wait until 2009 for their opportunity to continue their journey towards the 2011 ICC World Cup.
PNG Captain Rarua Dikana commented:
"We are devastated. We fought hard to get back into a position to win the game but didn't finish it off. Uganda played well and deserve to be in the final."
"We are devastated. We fought hard to get back into a position to win the game but didn't finish it off. Uganda played well and deserve to be in the final."