Barramundis geared up after Singapore series

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NATIONAL men’s cricket team head coach Carl Sandri says their twenty-20 international (T20I) series against Singapore was a good lead-up for the team’s World Cup qualifier which bats off in Zimbabwe tomorrow.
The Barramundis registered one win and a loss in the three-match series and played the decider on Tuesday before leaving for Zimbabwe.
“Singapore are ranked one spot behind us in the International Cricket Council T20 ranking, so it was a competitive series,” Sandri told The National on Tuesday.
“The first two fixtures were evenly matched in high-scoring conditions.
“It has been heavily favoured to the batters in the series which was a great test for our bowlers to get on the ground and minimise the damage and keep our batters in the contest.”
Sandri said he told his players to experience the different playing conditions.
“We came back and bowled very well in the second game,” he said.
“We didn’t start well with our batting, but a sensational and match-winning partnership between Norman Vanua and Tony Ura came together when the score was in favour of Singapore.
“The game was heavily weighted towards them around 5/50 off nine overs.
“Then once Norman and Tony’s partnership recorded 115 runs in eight overs, it re-opened the game.
“They swung the game back in our favour as we finished the job with Tony staying until the end.
“We won by three wickets (7/206) with six balls to spare.