Lewas lose to Pakistan, Scotland

THE Papua New Guinea Lewas head into their final Group B match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifier against South Africa after successive losses to Pakistan and Scotland.
The City Pharmacy-sponsored side were out-classed by Pakistan last Friday at the Nondescripts Cricket Club oval in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan won by 236 runs after scoring 276/5 and bowling the Lewas out for just 40 runs.
The gulf in class was evident as Pakistan’s openers Ayesha Zafar (115) and Javeria Khan (100) each scored a century with Zafar retiring out after clocking the top score off 98 balls – including 21 fours.
Lewas captain Pauke Siaka, pictured, collected 2-34 off her 10 overs and besides Ravini Oa’s, who took one for 49 and had a run-out, PNG were unable to trouble the Pakistan order despite using eight bowlers.
In reply, the Lewas were squeezed by a quality attack that bled few runs and had the PNG batsmen at their wit’s end trying to get the required 277 runs for victory.
It was a slow death for the Lewas, who were bowled out in 24.5 overs with middle order Konio Oala topping PNG’s card with 14 runs (off 50 balls) including a customary six.
Pakistan’s 19-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Nashra Sandhu (5-11) picked up five scalps while Maham Tariq (2-5) and Ghulam Fatima (2-3) each got doubles.
The following day PNG put in a better performance against Scotland at the Mercantile Association ground with bowlers Siaka  and Sibona Jimmy and batsmen Brenda Tau and Tanya Ruma shining for the Lewas.
The Scots scraped through by seven runs against the Lewas in a match where both teams were looking for their first win of the campaign.
Scotland’s win was led by Kari Anderson, who took 3- 35 and effected a run-out after PNG had won the toss and restricted them to 169.
Anderson ran out Lewas skipper Siaka took the wicket of top-scorer Brenda Tau (46) during the chase. Ruma was PNG’s next best with 32 as they were bowled out for 162 off the last ball of the match. She was supported by fellow medium-pacers Kirstie Gordon (2-27) and Priyanaz Chatterji (2-22), as the trio helped inflict a collapse that eventually saw PNG lose 10 for 90 – including two off the last over to Chatterji – after the openers had put on 72.
Earlier, Siaka had 6-19 with her medium-pace, assisted by off-spinner Sibona Jimmy who bowled five maidens and conceded only 15 in her 10 overs as well as contributing 23 with the bat.
Scotland’s only notable partnership had been the 59 runs Anderson (26) had put on with top-scorer Rachel Scholes (35).
Elizabeth Priddle (31) was the only other batsman to get into the thirties during Scotland’s 50-over innings.