Black Bass, Cassowaries register narrow wins

In the first match of the Hebou Shield, Black Bass won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot day in Port Moresby.
Kipling Doriga (17) and Steven Eno got the Black Bass off to a perfect start, racing to 47 runs in the seventh over before Doriga was dismissed, caught behind off the Assad Vala’s bowling.
Then Black Bass captain Charles Amini Jr joined Eno to frustrate the Mariners’ bowlers, hitting boundaries at will to post an unbeaten second-wicket century partnership.
Eno scored an unbeaten 80 runs off 60 balls while Amini also posted an unbeaten half century (55* off 42 balls) to help Black Bass reach 169-1 in 20 overs.
In reply, the Mariners mirrored the Black Bass, racing to 48 runs for the first wicket before Vala (32 off 24 balls) was caught behind off Amini’s bowling.
Jeremiah Wari (15) and Grayson Jones (19) later fell shortly to leave the Mariners in trouble at 3/78 off 12.3 overs.
Needing 12-plus runs per over, John Boge Reva came to the crease and blasted 47 runs off 21 balls before he was caught on the boundary by Nigani Heni.
With Mariners needing a further 34 runs to win off their final two overs, Simon Atai came to the crease and smashed 25 runs off nine balls to take the Mariners to two runs off victory.
Unfortunately for the Mariners, Atai missed the final ball and was run out at the bowlers end, meaning the Mariners fell one run short.
Damien Ravu (2/19) and Amini (2/20) were the pick of the Black Bass bowlers, taking two wickets apiece.
Eno was awarded the player of the match for his unbeaten 80 off 60 balls.
In the second match, Mudmen batted first and were bowled out for 126 off 19.1 overs.
Dogodo Bau was the top scorer for the Mudmen, scoring 53 runs off 51 balls while Norman Vanua (19) and Jason Kila (18) chipped in with some valuable runs in the middle order.
Sese Bau led the way with the ball for the Cassowarries, taking 3/26 while Nosiana Pokana (2/22), Eisa Eka (2/8) and Raho Sam (2/21) all picked up two wickets each.
In reply, the Cassowaries slumped to 4/38 in the ninth over when Wedega Simon was stumped off Riley Hekure’s bowling.
Then Sese scored a magnificent half century (59 runs off 43 balls) to nudge the Cassowaries into a winning position before Chad Soper (13*) and Raho Sam (17*) guided the Cassowaries to victory in the final over.
Sese was awarded the player of the match for his all-round performance (3/26 and 59).
The Hebou Shield continues today, with Cassowaries taking on Mariners in the morning and Black Bass in the afternoon.