Hosts ready for Vanuatu challenge after warm-up loss

 Papua New Guinea cricket coach John Ovia (pictured) says his side is ready to take on the challenge put on them by Vanuatu.

Ovia, who returned to the country after a stint with the Barramundis on tour, said he had faith in his side, the PNG A Team, which lost a warm-up fixture to the Andrew Mansale-led Vanuatu XI over the weekend.

“Everybody is fine and looking forward to the Games. We’ve been preparing for this game for almost five months, doing the essential stuff, skills and fitness but the only thing is we did not play enough matches,” Ovia said.

“We had some practice matches in Brisbane against the Barramundis where we fine-tuned everything and I think the boys are fully confident.

“They’re ready to win the gold medal and not the silver.”

Ovia said although he was not present for the warm-up match, he did not see anything in the result to warrant any worries.

“Looking at the score sheet, I think there were plenty of positives out of the game.”

Ovia acknowledged that Vanuatu had brought a full strength squad to the Games but he dismissed any suggestions that his side would face a daunting task to maintain PNG’s cricket supremacy in the region.

“I’m not worried. I have confidence in my boys and the guys helping me, like Hitolo Areni and Maru Hobart. 

“I think we are on the right track.” The A Team were bowled out by Vanuatu for 116 runs and they reached the target 117 for the loss of eight wickets.

Vanuatu assistant coach Brett Wright gave the impression that the result of the warm-up was inconsequential.

“It was a warm-up. We won but I can’t even remember the scores,” Wright said at training yesterday.

Vanuatu has yet to beat PNG in a cricket match at senior level.

Ovia said Vanuatu captain Mansale’s comments earlier in the week that his side would treat PNG as the team to beat and that they would prevail to claim the gold was nothing more than hopeful banter.

“That’s a very good comment (by Mansale) but you know we have been beating these guys every year forever and the warm-up game is history, that’s gone, we are looking beyond what is happening  now so our preparation for the coming matches will be perfect and we’re looking forward to the contest again,” Ovia said.