Wests beat Easts, win shield

WESTS claimed the Hebou Shield women’s T20 title after defeating Easts in the grand final at Amini Park on Saturday by 24 runs.
Wests made 106 with Sandra Paliau (23) and Mairi Siari (21) top scoring while Naoani Vare was the pick of the Easts bowlers taking an incredible 4-16.
In reply, Easts struggled to get on top of the Wests attack and were bowled out for 82 in the final over.
Baia John (16), Tanya Ruma (12) and Junah Ilagai (12) were the only Easts batsmen to score in double figures while Kaia Arua (2-7) and Marie Sairi (2-15) picked up a couple of wickets each.
Paliau, who plays her cricket in the Ahioma Cricket Association in Milne Bay, was named the player-of-the-match.
Kaia Arua, pictured, lifted the Hebou Shield for Wests as captain which sealed a remarkable year for her after being selected in the EAP women’s team at the Australian Country Cricket Championships, captaining the City Pharmacy Papua New Guinea Lewas to the semifinal of the International Cricket Council’s Women’s World T20 Qualifier in the Netherlands, being selected in the inaugural ICC Global women’s development squad as well as being part of the winning Poreporena women’s team in the Port Moresby Cricket Association.
Wests and Easts qualified for the final after finishing in first and second on the standings.
All three teams finished equal on four points each, but Wests (+0.0595) and Easts (-0.0297) had a better net run rate (NRR) than Souths (-0.0367).
The 2018 Hebou Shield women’s competition took place across four days from Monday Oct 22 to Sunday Oct 28, featuring three teams, the best female cricketers in the country in a T20 format with all matches played at the Amini Park, Port Moresby.
Result: Sat, Oct 27 – Grand Final: Wests 106 all out (Sandra Paliau 23, Mari Siari 21; Naoani Vare 4-16, Puana Siaka 2-18) Easts 82 all out (Baia John 16, Tanya Ruma 12, Junah Ilagai 12; Kaia Arua 2-17, Marie Sairi 2-15). Wests won by 24 runs.