Monier Shield into the swing of things

THE Monier Shield is Cricket PNG’s national  championship and features players from all over PNG.
It will also act as national selection trials and will be part of selecting the Hebou Barramundi’s squad and emerging players squads for 2011-12.
Last year’s T20 champions Air Niugini Jets, captained by former U19 Garamut captain John Boge Reva, played a double header in round one and got off to aflying start.
Winning both games ,the Jets sit on top of the table with 12 points after the weekend.
In the men’s matches, the outstanding performance without doubt was Charles Amini Jr who having just had an excellent tournament at Arafura Games, turned on the magic with a sparkling 96 to nearly become the first local centurion on the turf wickets at Amini and Colts.
Under17 national captain Dogodo Bau again showed his class as he anchored the Titans innings.
He was the reason they scored a competitive 10-173 and nearly pulled off a win losing by four runs.
Reva was the star performer with the ball last Saturday taking 5-16 to steer the Jets home.
This was then eclipsed on Sunday when Lister Oala took an outstanding 5-14 on Colts for Monier Miners to destroy BSP.
PNG international debutant at the Arafura games Tony Menaga was again consistent taking 4-12 for the Jets to drive them to victory on Sunday on Amini Park.
In women’s matches, last year’s champions Dulux Magic and UMW Saints both returned to their winning ways by easily winning their first round matches.