Garamuts lose first pool match at World Cup

THE PNG Garamuts lost their first pool match at International Cricket Council’s U19 World Cup championships in New Zealand on Saturday as Bangladesh scored a five wicket victory over them.
General manager for Cricket PNG Bill Leane said: “With five wickets in hand, however, the scores do not reflect the overall performance of PNG.” 
He added that PNG ended up being relatively happy with 9/191 compiled after a disastrous start and two rain delays totalling 85 minutes.
This saw the match reduced to 46 overs a side and Bangladesh’s target later revised to 189 under the Duckworth-Lewis system.
Garamut openers started cautiously with Heni and Lega Siaka putting on 20 before the Bangladesh pace attack ripped out the top order to leave the side reeling at 52 for five.
Tony Ura (68) and Sese Bau (23) steadied the innings to get to 87 for five before the rain delayed play after 24 overs.
Once play resumed the PNG’s batsmen went up a gear with Ura who began nudging the slower bowlers around for ones and twos, then began to strike them all around Fitzherbert Park.
Ura and Bau put on 70 for the sixth wicket which helped make the score respectable.
Ura was in good form and a century seemed likely before he was run out with 10 overs remaining.
Captain Jason Kila (41) made a watchful start but kept the scoreboard ticking over, smashing two fours and two sixes to boost the total to 191for nine.
Bangladesh started the chase badly, with the PNG quicks taking early wickets to have the batting side sweating at 77 for four.
But there was little else for the bowlers to smile about as Mahmudul Hasan and Shabbir Rahman put on 77 for the fifth wicket, keeping the run rate over six.
Rahman brought up his 50 from 45 balls and was joined by Nur Hossain who hit 24 from 18 to end the match by the 28 over.
The Garamuts had a very poor day in the field and several lackluster efforts and dropped catches provided Bangladesh with opportunities to capitalise.