Lewas hammer Samoa

THE City Pharmacy Papua New Guinea Lewas have completed a clean sweep of the East Asia Pacific Regional finals with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over their toughest rival Samoa in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
The competition came down to the last game with both teams undefeated, the prize being a position in the Global World Cup qualifiers in Scotland later this year.
With Samoa batting first the Lewas needed to take early wickets, the Samoan top order had been in devastating form so the pressure was on the opening bowlers who responded wonderfully well.
They had both openers out within the first four overs with Samoa in trouble at two for nine with Oa and Tom picking up the wickets.
Freda Pula staged a mini fightback with a top score of 23 but was eventually one of Kaia Arua’s three middle order wickets in her in her match figures of three for nine off her four overs.
Samoa finished their 20 overs on six for 82.
In reply, the CPL Lewas had a similarly shakey start also losing two early wickets including in form Tanya Ruma for no score to be two for nine after three overs.
Then with Brenda Tau joining captain Kaia Arua at the crease the pair put on a match-winning partnership of 61 runs before Arua was caught and bowled by Iosefo for 27 very handy runs.
Tau led the Lewas home with another unbeaten innings (32 off 30 balls) with Naoani Vare hitting the winning run, starting the celebrations.
Coach Rarua Dikana said: “I’m very proud of the girls, they worked hard on their games leading into this tournament and got the result we were after.
They knew how important this tournament was and were desperate to get the opportunity to vie for a World Cup berth in Scotland later this year.” Some standout individual performances of the tournament included three bowlers taking five-wicket hauls: Ravini Oa (5-13), Kaia Arua (5-7) and Natasha Ambo (5-10).
In the batting, Tanya Ruma had a top score of 66 for the series and Brenda Tau with three not out innings of 30, 21, and 32 in the final game to guide the Lewas on the road to Scotland.
The team returns to Port Moresby today and will take a short break before resuming training and preparing for the big challenge ahead at the women’s Global Qualifier in August.