A Team beats Aussies in T20 thriller

 PAPUA New Guinea A beat a strong Australia Under-19 side by three runs in a Twenty-20 cricket match in Brisbane, Australia, on Tuesday. 

Batting first, PNG A, who will later go on to represent the country at the Pacific Games in July, posted a very competitive 123/9 off their allotted 20 overs. 

Vani Vagi Morea led by example, top-scoring with a classy 45 runs off 39 balls. 

His innings included five boundaries and a six. 

Charles Amini Jr (26) and Hiri Hiri (13) were the other major contributors with the bat. 

Henry Thorton (NSW) took 3 for 20 with the ball, while Jhye Richardson (WA), Sam Rowley (Qld) and Jonte Pattison (NSW) took two wickets apiece for the Australians. 

“It was a brilliant batting performance by the two of them (Morea and Amini) against a very good bowling attack. 

“To post 123 runs was a great effort,” Cricket PNG head coach, Dipak Patel said.   

In reply, the Australia U19s had a solid start, with their top five batsmen reaching double figures. 

Fortunately for PNG, all the bowlers kept the run-rate in check and eventually restricted the Australians to 120/6 off their 20 overs. 

Chad Soper, playing his first PNG representative game since 2012, took 2/for 23 and four other bowlers all took a wicket each. 

“The bowlers bowled very well to restrict them to 120. 

“The fielders backed them up in the field as well. Both these factors were the recipe for the victory, along with the tough training regime which was in place prior to the tour,” Patel said.   

The 14-man PNG A side is on tour in Brisbane, playing against some of the best young cricketers in Australia in both T20 and 50 over fixtures. 

The side comprises players in the junior development programme and several Barramundis. 

The side returns today.