Solid partnership by openers sets stage for Taora win

A RECORD opening stand of 202 runs in 28 overs by Taora’s opening duo secured 4th placing for their team when they thumped Kempa by an amazing 164 runs in the last round of the Port Moresby Cricket Association competition on Sunday.
The two openers Mebi Ipi (72 not out) and Bede Morea (70 not out), both current PNG women’s representatives, surely captured the limelight over the weekend by displaying great stroke play  all around the ground in hitting unbeaten half centuries in a fine exhibition of batting.
By the 15th over, Taora were cruising comfortably at 98 runs without any loss of wickets and added another 104 runs in the next 13 overs when time caught up for the compulsory change of innings.
Sundries through wides contributed a further 51 runs in a disappointing day for Kempa who regrettably won the toss and sent Taora in to bat first.
The onslaught continued when Taora’s rookie opening bowler Sibona Jimmy struck immediately removing Kempa opener Kapa Navu for a duck in her very first ball in the opening over.
She finished with figures of 2/18 off 6 overs and was ably supported by Isabel Kari (1/2 off 2 overs), Konio Rei Lohia (1/2 off 1 over) while Initui Tarabu was impressive with 3 wickets for 12 runs from her 6 over spell.
Kempa’s innings finished at a disappointing 38 runs in 15 overs with only opening batter Rachel scoring 18 runs.
PMMI Taora will now take on minor premiers United in a 1 vs 4 semi-final format while second-placed Coasters and third-placed Poreporena will battle out the other semi-final with winners of each semi-final advancing to the premiership decider in two weeks.