Ura hits century

PAPUA New Guinea opening batsmen Tony Ura smashed a record 151 runs in a hard-fought four-wicket loss to Ireland at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
After being sent in to bat by Ireland’s captain William Porterfield, the Hebou-sponsored PNG Barramundis got off to another disastrous start, slumping to 24/3 in the 12th over.
When Charles Amini Junior was stumped for eight runs off the bowling off Paul Stirling, PNG were in a massive hole at 80/6 and in danger of being bowled out for less than 100.
During this carnage, Ura stuck to his plans to hit the very strong Ireland bowling attack to hit his maiden ODI century.
The Barramundis’ lower-order fought very hard to frustrate the Ireland attack with Jack Vare (13) putting on 36 runs for the seventh wicket with Ura before he was run out, Chad Soper (25) putting on 83 runs for the eighth wicket with Ura before he became former England international Boyd Rankin’s second victim and Norman Vanua (12) put on 28 runs for the 10th wicket before Ura was dismissed for a magnificent 151 runs three balls into the final over.
These lower-order partnerships helped the Barramundis post a very respectable 235 runs with Ura being the star and playing a lone hand.
Ura’s innings off 151 came off 142 balls, becoming only the second PNG player to score an ODI century and falling three balls short of becoming the first PNG batsman to carry their bat in an ODI match.
Andy McBrine (3-38) was the pick of the Ireland bowlers taking three wickets, while Rankin (2-41) and Kevin O’Brien (2-53) picked up a couple of wickets. In pursuit of the 236 target, Porterfield and Paul Stirling (27) got off to flyer, racing to 50 runs in less than eight overs before Assad Vala’s off-spin dismissed Stirling.
When Andy Balbirine was cleaned bowled by Chad Soper for seven, Ireland were in a vulnerable position at 76/2.
Then former England test player, Ed Joyce (53) joined his captain to take the game away from the Barramundis by adding a 108-run third wicket partnership before Mahuru Dai dismissed Joyce for a well compiled half-century.
Niall O’Brien was trapped leg before wicket (LBW) shortly after to leave Ireland at 188/4 in the 39th over before Porterfield posted his 11th ODI century.
His patient innings off 111 came off 133 balls which included 12 boundaries before eventually being dismissed by Alei Nao in the 44th over.
Vanua came back into the attack to bowl out Kevin O’Brien (12) to put some pressure back on Ireland’s chase at 216/6 in the 45th over. Papua New Guinea fought hard to take the match into the final over, before Gary Wilson (12 not out) and George Dockrell (8 not out) guided Ireland to a four-wicket win with five balls remaining.
Vala (2-39) was the Barramundis’ best bowler taking two wickets while Nao, Soper, Vanua and Dai picked up a wicket each.
PNG had a day off yesterday, before taking on the two-time World Cup winners, West Indies at the Old Hararians Ground today.
In other day two results, West Indies defeated United Arab Emirates by 60 runs, Scotland defeated Hong Kong by four wickets and in the match of the day Zimbabwe defeated Afghanistan by two runs.
Match Summary: PNG 235 all out (Tony Ura 151, Chad Soper 25, Jack Vare-Kevere 13; Andy McBrine 3-38, Boyd Rankin 2-41, Kevin O’Brien 2-53) Ireland 237/6 (William Porterfield 111, Ed Joyce 53, Paul Stirling 27; Assad Vala 2-39, Alei Nao 1-34, Chad Soper 1-38, Mahuru Dai 1-41). Ireland won by 4 wickets with 5 balls remaining.