Lewas beat Japan, back to top of region

 PAPUA New Guinea won the 2014 International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific Women’s Trophy in dramatic fashion against hosts Japan. 

In a thrilling final day’s play on Saturday, PNG overthrew champion Japan with an 11-run win to gain back the EAP region’s number one ranking. 

Earlier in the day it was an effortless win for Samoa as they triumphed over the Cook Islands in the tournaments  third place playoff. 

PNG will now participate in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier next year.

With Japan having beaten PNG in round-robin play the day before, it was expected that the number one ranked EAP side would continue in the same vein to win their third straight EAP trophy title. 

Winning the toss and electing to bat first PNG got off to a tense start. 

Perhaps it was finals nerves but PNG openers regularly played and missed at the top of the innings. 

Credit should also go to Japan’s opening bowling pair of Kurumi Ota and Ayako Nakayama who kept things tight and were rewarded, having PNG one wicket down in the third over for just seven runs.

However as PNG settled, they started to find the middle of the bat and posted a competitive 113/3. Tanya Ruma top scored for the Lewas with an unbeaten 47.

Lewas opening bowler Veru Frank ripped through Japan’s top order, taking three wickets in her first over of the match to be 8/3 by the third over. 

Japan were eventually bowled out for 102 in the final over.

Frank, who took three for 11 runs was named player of the match.