Dai to shore up Barras

By HUXLEY LOVAI
PAPUA New Guinea Barramundis all-rounder Mahuru Dai has been a mainstay of national squads for more than a decade since making his debut for the national Under-19 cricket side in 2001.
The 31-year-old from Hanubada in the National Capital District made his senior debut for the Barramundis in 2005 at an International Cricket Council tournament in Ireland.
Since then, he has played in numerous ICC-sanctioned tournaments and World Cup qualifiers for both the 50 and 20-over formats.
A right-handed middle order batsman and off spin bowler, Dai told The National that one of the advantages of being an all-rounder was the added opportunity to contribute to the team’s performance.
“If we are batting first and I don’t perform, I then have the opportunity to make up for it with my bowling and vice-versa,” said Dai, who will play a part with both ball and bat in this month’s  two World Cricket League Championship one-day fixtures in Port Moresby.
Dai said that the pitch at Amini Park was well-suited for spin.
“Amini Park is best suited for spinners because it’s a bit lower and slow, so the ball tends to grip for the spinners and you can get good turn,” he said.
“The batsmen find playing pace bowlers more comfortable, but when the spinners come in, the batsmen find it more challenging.”
Other spin bowlers in the Barramundis include leg spinning all-rounder Charles Amini and opener Lega Siaka as a part-time option.
When asked about the impact that national team coach Dipak Patel had on his game, Dai said the knowledge and guidance imparted by the former New Zealand Test and one-day star was invaluable.
“As a champion spinner for New Zealand, Dipak has helped me a lot with my bowling,” Dai said.
“He’s shown me how to bowl in certain situations and where to pitch the ball.” As for the rest of the team, Dai said the Patel had introduced new systems and training techniques that the players embraced.
When asked what the Barramundis strong suit was — batting or bowling — Dai admitted that pres the side’s strength was their bowling but shoring up their batting was a priority.
In terms of the team’s fielding, Dai said the Barramundis were perhaps one of the best fielding sides in the second-tier of world cricket.