Barras’ Pokana bags award for bowling

By ROBINSON LEKA
Papua New Guinea bowler Nosaina Pokana last week was awarded the ESPN-Cricinfo associate bowling performance for last year for his role in helping the Barramundis reclaim their one-day international (ODI) status last year.
Pokana took five for 14 against a stronger Oman in the International Council Cricket (ICC) World Cricket League Division Two match in Windhoek, Namibia.
During the tournament last April, the Barramundis had recorded one win from four matches and needed an overwhelming result against previously undefeated Oman to have any hope of staying above Canada on net run rate for fourth place and the last ODI status slot at Division Two.
Pokana entered in the second inning with his new-ball swing, defending a total of 221 for the Barramundis and pulled one best performances from an ICC associate nation after bowling Jatinder Singh with the first ball of the chase.
He later had four more batsmen caught behind in the power play to leave Oman 23 for six on the way to being bowled out for 76. PNG went on to win the match by 145 runs and later reclaimed their ODI status by four runs on net run rate.
The Barramundis have since been in an uphill battle in the ODI division two campaigns with eight straight losses but coach Joe Dawes and his team have signalled a stronger campaign this year.