Barraas claim T20 title

THE PNG Hebou Barramundis claimed the Air Niugini Cricket Super Series on Sunday with a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Hong Kong in the Twenty/20 final at Amini Park in Port Moresby.
Set 101 for victory, Barramundis openers Assad Vala and Tony Ura made short work of the total, hammering 55 and 44 respectively in an unbeaten opening stand of 102 to see our national cricket team comfortably home in 11 overs.
But the final of the four-day series, which began last Thursday with 50-over matches, was not the only highlight as batsmen from all sides taking part – PNG, Hong Kong, Gold Coast and Singapore – made runs on the flat Port Moresby tracks.
For the hosts, youngster Chris Kent scored an unbeaten 116 in the Barramundis’ 88-run win over Singapore (all out for 95) in the semi-final earlier on Sunday.
The 19-year-old, who will captain the Garamuts at next month’s International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup in Australia, struck his ton off 72 balls, with support from Charles Amini Jr (29), Lega Siaka (17) and Vani Vagi Morea (17).
The other semi-final saw Hong Kong score an imposing 5-221, with the top four batsmen Waqas Barkat (44), Afzal Tanwir (47), Kinchit Shah (45) and Barbar Hayat (67 not out) all cashing in on a dead pitch.
The Gold Coast’s Rhys Saunders hit a whirlwind 56, including six sixes, but it was not enough as his side fell short by 75 runs.
On Saturday, Assad Vala smashed 108 not out against Hong Kong in the first round of T20 matches.
The Keapara man clubbed six sixes and 10 boundaries in a 56-ball knock.
The player of the series went to a consistent performer in Barramundis batsman Tony Ura, who hit a string of scores 52, 72, 60, 35 and 44 not out in  his five innings at the crease at an average of 52.6.
Ura, 22, said he was satisfied with his efforts but rued missing out on converting one of his half-centuries into a hundred.
“I’m happy with my form but I think I was in too much of a rush and didn’t get a bigger score,” he said.
“I’ll try to be more patient and keep training with that in mind.”