PNG’s win against Kenya ‘unreal’: Bowler

By ROBINSON LEKA
STEPPING up and delivering one of Papua New Guinea cricket’s most historic partnerships in a T20 qualifier to save the Barramundis against steep odds was a task bowler Norman Vanua did not anticipate.
Vanua upon returning from the T20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai on Monday described the Barramundis’ Pool-A match against Kenya as “unreal” after partnering Sese Bau to create a 77-run partnership to bring PNG’s fourth-over score of 6/19 to 119 all-out.
“I’ve been to a couple of tournaments where we’ve been in a similar situation but not as dire as this one,” he told The National.
“I’d say it’s because I didn’t want to let the team down, I knew I had a big role to play.
“I was sort of the side’s last chance and I knew that if Sese I didn’t work out, it wouldn’t have pushed the total but I’m so glad we did.”
The 25-year-old said it was satisfying to pull the match out of the fire to keep the Barramundis on course for automatic qualification at next year’s showpiece event in Australia.
After scoring a career best of 54 runs off 48 balls, Vanua bagged two wickets (2/19) in a player-of-the-match performance.
“To bowl them out for 70-odd runs, who would’ve expected that after labouring at 6/19? “It’s the first time we ever finished in the top two,” he said.
“I’m just happy to have played my part for the team and it eventually got us through to the World Cup. It still is an unreal feeling.”