Legends get eight-run win in third round of cricket bash

THE Isuzu T20 Bash continued on Friday with the third round double-header at Port Moresby’s Amini Park. The morning match between Lewas Legends and Lewas Cricket Papua New Guinea Board 11 was an enthralling match with the Legends hanging on for an eight-run win.
The Legends won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening with Sibona Jimmy and Tanya Frank, they combined for a superb opening partnership of 93 before Jimmy was bowled by Mairi Tom.
Jimmy’s dominate innings of 57 came off just 43 balls while Frank compiled a composed 30 off 54 balls. Siaka kept the scoring rate up with 20 off 14 balls as the Legends finished their innings on 4/140.
Tom was the best of the Board bowlers with tidy firgures of 2/17 off her four overs.
In response, Board captain Brenda Tau was at her brilliant best carrying her bat through the innings with 74 not-out off 72 balls.
Naoami Vare also continued her good form from Wednesday with 24 runs at a run a ball but was dimissed by Isabel Toua with victory in sight.
Tanya Ruma was run out six runs later. From there, the Legends bowlers held their nerve to restrict Board’s total to 3/132, handing the Legends their first win of the series.
Amazingly, the afternoon match was closer still with Dogodo Bau hitting the winning runs for Barramundis Board 11 on the last ball.
Barramundis Legends batted first with Lega Siaka and Charles Amini Jr in great touch after the early loss of Ura for four.
Amini and Siaka shared a quickfire partnership of 46 with Bau and Riley Hekure continuing the monetum to what looked like being a big score.
However, the Board bowlers fought back to restrict them to 141.
Hiri Hiri and Alei Nao grabbed two wickets each with Nosaina Pokana and two others all with single wickets.
The chase started poorly for Board with opener Norman Vanua out without scoring but then Gaudi Toka and Assad Vala put together a 79-run partnership to have the game seemingly in control.
They lost Hiri Hiri and Kipling Doriga in quick succession both on 18 with the team still requiring 10 runs.
Jason Kila was then dismissed for a duck and the Legends sensed they had a slim chance for victory.
However, Bau remained composed, hitting the winning runs on the last ball to secure the win for Board.
National head coach Carl Sandri said he was impressed with the matches.
“We saw two cracking games of cricket, both full of pressure and going down to the wire,” he said.
“This is exactly what we expect to see in the Isuzu Bash.
“I was particularly happy with how the two Lewas sides played, it is a credit to them, particularly the Legends who bounced back so well after a disappointing round two.”
The Barras will be back in action with a double-header tomorrow. All games are live streamed and can be viewed on www.matchcentre.cricketpng.org.pg.