Barramundis remain upbeat

**All-rounder Norman Vanua arriving in Port Moresby.**

THE Kumul Petroleum Papua New Guinea Barramundis remain upbeat on their return from Oman despite a winless maiden Twenty-20 (T20) World Cup campaign.
The national men’s cricket team arrived on Sunday at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby where they would have a two-week break before resuming training at Amini Park.
PNG opened their World Cup campaign with a 10-wicket loss to the hosts at Oman Cricket Academy before coach Carl Sandri’s men endured a 17-run defeat by Scotland.

**Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis skipper Assad Vala arriving with his teammates at Jackson International Airport on Sunday.**

The Assad Vala-captained Barramundis’ final match was an 84-run hammering at the hands of group-B heavyweights Bangladesh.
But despite a baptism of fire, they won the admiration of many cricket pundits and followers from around the world.

**Bowler Nosaina Pokana returning from the Barramundis’ maiden Twenty-20 World Cup campaign in Oman**

“They will be talking about how they’re pretty much like a family,” veteran ESPNcricinfo writer and Australian filmmaker Jarrod Kimber said during PNG’s World Cup debut.

**Barramundis all-rounder Simon Atai meeting Cricket PNG secretary Michael Harrison.**

“They are certainly closer than most international cricket teams.
“During the (World Cup) qualifiers in Dubai, they seem to travel as one 15-man unit at all times when they were eating or sleeping, or in the swimming pool – they always seem to be together.”
That bond will be crucial as Vala, Charles Amini Jr, Norman Vanua, Kipling Doriga,

**Lewas’ Tanya Ruma (middle) and Vicky Ara’a in action against the PNG Garamuts.**

Tony Ura and company look to improve their ranking and become World Cup regulars.
Meanwhile, the national women’s team, the Lewas, are undergoing a week-long quarantine before they depart for Zimbabwe where they will attempt to qualify for next year’s 50-over World Cup in New Zealand.
They played their final lead-up domestic match against the Under-19 national men’s team, the Garamuts, in Port Moresby on Friday.