PNG XI beats Vic club team in 2-game series

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Wednesday 01st Febuary 2012

PAPUA New Guinea’s national cricket team have beaten Melbourne’s Hawthorn Cricket Club in their second 50-over game that was decided on the final ball of the day last Sunday.
After a slow start PNG came home strongly to score 9-141, Jason Kila top scored with 30 while John Boge Riva made a very fast 26 – despite batting ninth.
Hawthorn looked set to cruise to victory, but lost a few quick wickets and their nerve to lose their 7th wicket for 140.
Man-of-the-match was awarded to Chris Amini from PNG for his all round performance.
The idea for the match came to Hawthorn coach Dan van den Hoek when he was volunteering for an exhibition game between the U16 PNG and West Indies teams.
“I thought it would be a great chance to expose players to an international standard and generate more exposure for the PNG team,” Van den Hoek said.
Van den Hoek approached the PNG team manager, Pat Khan, who happened to be a family friend.
In just a few weeks, they put together a full day of cricket and fund-raising at the Ainslie Park club in Croydon, where van den Hoek was a player.
Three hundred people turned out to see the PNG side win both games.
The aim of the match was to promote grassroots cricket in Victoria and develop the game in PNG.