Lewas head to T20 qualifiers quietly confident

THE Papua New Guinea Lewas departed yesterday for their maiden ICC Women’s World T20 qualifiers in the Netherlands.
The 14-member squad will begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with warm-up games against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand and Ireland before the tournament gets underway for themwith a game against Bangladesh on July 7.
The City Pharmacy-sponsored Lewas are in Group A along with Bangladesh, UAE and hosts Netherlands. Lewas coach Rarua Dikana, pictured, had some encouraging words for the girls before they left.
“We’ve done all the hard work and now it is up to the girls to apply what they’ve learned over the last six months.
“I’m confident the girls will go out there and give it their all, play to the best of their abilities, perform well and make themselves, their families and their country very proud,” Dikana said.
“The hard work and the sacrifices they have put in during training, make me excited about the tournament.
“We are looking forward to our first game and hopefully they put in some top performances on the field.”
Cricket PNG director Gayan Loku said: “On behalf of the Cricket PNG board, management, staff and the wider cricketing community of PNG, we would like to wish captain Pauke Siaka and the Lewas the best at the T20 World Cup qualifier in the Netherlands.
“The Lewas have been training very hard this year under the guidance of coach Rarua Dikana and national coach Joe Dawes.
“This is the best preparation the Lewas have had leading into a major ICC tournament and we are quietly confident that they will become the first senior national cricket team to qualify for an ICC World Cup.
“We know they will do their family, Cricket PNG and the country proud in the Netherlands.”
PNG Lewas squad: 1. Pauke Siaka (c), 2. Kaia Arua, 3. Sibona Lucy Jimmy, 4. Tanya Ruma, 5. Natasha Ambo, 6. Vicky Ara’a, 7. Helen Buruka, 8. Veru Kila Frank, 9. Kopi John, 10. Ravini Oa, 11. Brenda Hoi Tau, 12. Mairi Tom, 13. Isabel Toua, 14. Naoani Noinoi Vare.