Barras coach disappointed with loss

PAPUA New Guinea consultant cricket coach Joe Dawes opened up to Cricket PNG after the disappointing result in the ICC Intercontinental Cup (ICup) fixture against Hong Kong in Sharjah last Friday.
Hong Kong inflicted the Hebou PNG Barramundis’ heaviest ICC ICup defeat after thrashing the Pacific Island nation by an innings and 29 runs in the round 7 fixture.
PNG were in the match heading into the third day, with Hong Kong only leading by 32 runs with two first innings in hand.
“It was very disappointing to have the result we had despite the fact that the boys were in the match for the first couple of days. The boys fought hard with the ball and in the field but we put ourselves massively on the back foot with our batting in the first innings. To be 90/0 then get bowled out on a good wicket after winning the toss was very disappointing,” Dawes, who took over from Jason Gillespie, said.
Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat was the star smashing an unbeaten 214 to give Hong Kong a lead of 111 runs before bowlers of Ehsan Khan (5-13) and Ahmed (4-43) took nine wickets to bowl out PNG for their lowest ICup score of 82.
“Babar showed us how to bat in four-day cricket. It is something we have to learn more about and something the boys will learn from as they play longer forms of the game. He was very patient and stuck to his game plan,” Dawes said.
One of the positives that Dawes took out of the ICup fixture was how PNG fought hard in the field.
PNG turn their attention to the ICC World Cricket League Championships round 7 fixtures against Hong Kong today and on Friday.
PNG are in second spot on 16 points, trailing the Netherlands, who are on top on 18 points after round six.
The team that finishes top of the ICC WCLC ladder at the conclusion of the next round not only win the ICC WCLC but will be included in the ICC 13-team One Day International (ODI) League in 2020.