Isuzu Black bounce back to beat Red ahead of final

ISUZU Black bounced back on Sunday to beat Isuzu Red in the last pool game of this year’s Isuzu National Day 50-over cricket tournament at Port Moresby’s Amini Park.
After some indifferent form, Black needed this win to regain confidence ahead of this weekend’s grand final against Red again.
Black elected to bat first and got off to the worst-possible start, losing opener Gaudi Toka in the first ball of the innings, bowled by Kabua Vagi who also picked up the second wicket of Siaka (leg before wicket) for 15.
Ainui Ere, from the Poreporena club, looked settled in a solid 48-run partnership with Assad Vala before both were dismissed in quick succesion for 27 and 35 respectively.
Young Barramundi Simon Atai then occupied the crease, batting well with the lower order to finish on 78 not-out.
His maturity and determination in his innings helped Black to 9/214 off the allotted 50 overs. He had great support from young Hula product Malcom Apporo with 30 at nearly a run a ball before falling to an LBW by Charles Amini Jr.
Daure Lohia continues to be a proven wicket taker for Red with another three-wicket haul, finishing with 3/31, including the important wicket of Vala. Amini and Vagi grabbed two wickets each to restrict Black to a chaseable total.
Red again trialled an experimental batting line-up, dropping Ura down to five with Hiri and Amini providing a strong middle order.
But with the top-three in Sese Bau, Hila Vare and Doura Gavera all out early, it placed immense pressure on the middle order and with Ura departing for 18 with the score at 5/52, the writing was on the wall.
It then went from bad to worse as Hiri and Amini were back in the grandstand without much addition to the score.
Daure Lohia not only topped the wicket takers for Red, he also topped the batiing with 20 runs in a disappointing team total as they capitulated to be all out for 109.
Michael Charlie got among the wickets for Black with 3/22, sharing the honours with experienced teammates Nosiana Pokana (3/21) and Lega Siaka (3/26).
National head coach Carl Sandri said: “ I was impressed with Simon’s innings today, he has been getting starts and today seemed a bit of a breakthrough innings for him.”