Lewas get ready for qualifers

 By MELTON PAIS
THE City Pharmacy Papua New Guinea Lewas depart for Samoa on July 12 for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier for the East Asia Pacific (EAP) region.
The Lewas will travel to Apia two days early to prepare for their tournament opener against host Samoan on July 15.
The next day, the Lewas face Japan, while on July 19 they take on Samoa again.
Their last match will be against Japan on July 21.
The Lewas return home on the weekend of July 23-24.
In the meantime, the Lewas are training under coach Rodney Maha at Amini Park.
During the announcement of the final Lewas squad a week ago, Maha was optimistic his team would do well at the regional qualifiers against two teams that have made big improvements over the last two years.
Maha said the training had been intense and this was necessary in order to compete with the rising women’s cricket powers in the EAP region.
“I’m happy with how the girls have been training. They’ve displayed a high skill level and are responding to the coaching as well,” Maha said. He said it was a great challenge for him to take up a role to be women’s coach after coaching men’s sides.
“It’s a challenge but I’m taking it one step at a time and I think we’ve done well and I have every confidence that they can compete and beat the teams they face.
“I know they can deliver.”
The Lewas will take on Japan and hosts Samoa in 50-over matches.
The winner from this event progresses to the global qualifier for the ICC 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be held in England.
The qualifier will take place in either late-2016 or early-2017.