PNG suffer second loss in warm-up match

THE Papua New Guinea Garamuts succumbed to their second loss in as many matches at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 World Cup Championships in Lincoln, New Zealand yesterday, this time falling to the United States in a 116-run defeat in a warm-up match.
With the Yanks winning the toss, they elected to bat running up 286 in 40.5 overs. Three quick fire half centuries from openers Steve Taylor (57) and Henry Wardley (54) as well as Azurdeen Mohammed (57) helped the US build an imposing total.
PNG were given a good chance of beating fellow second tier nation USA but, requiring more than five runs an over, the Garamuts’ top order had to get them off to a solid start. It was not to be as the Americans exposed a top order of Lega Siaka (2), Rogeauka Roge (0) and Sese Bau (5) dismissing them cheaply before taking the last PNG wicket in the 39th over with PNG having only managed 170 runs.
Along the way middle order batsman Lega Tau gave PNG something to cheer about rattling off 45 runs off 46 balls while his skipper Jason Kila hit 34 at a run a ball but these were the only shining lights as the rest of the batting card failed to make an impression.
American paceman Asad Gous (4-36) collected a four wicket haul including the scalps of Tau and Kila.
Promising legspinner Charles Amini Jr showed his potential coming back from injury bagging four wickets, all from the top order, despite conceding 68 runs.
The Garamuts will rest today before their first pool match tomorrow with the aim of improving on their current 12th place ranking at this year’s ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.
Meanwhile the East Asia Pacific cricket team lost to the Northern Territory Country by three wickets on Monday in a two day match at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Albury, Victoria.
EAP amassed 337 with Asad Vala (103) hitting a century and fellow Papua New Guinean Vani Vagi Morea scoring 72 not out. But the Territories overhauled the target in good time reaching 341 for seven on the second day.
Yesterday EAP began their final two day match against the Australian Capital Territory with hopes of adding at least one more win to their solitary success last week against South Australia.
The EAP men are currently 1-5 with an overall five points for sixth place.