Scotland see off late rally from Papua New Guinea to retain perfect record

Norman Vanua made 48 and Kiplin Doriga added 18 in a rapid 53-run partnership to put a cat among the pigeons late on, but Josh Davey took four wickets as the Scots held their nerve

pngscot191001

Al Amarat: Scotland 165-9, Papua New Guinea 148 - Scotland win by 17 runs

Scorecard

Scotland eased to victory over Papua New Guinea in their second match of the T20 World Cup despite a late rally that created a closer finish than had looked likely.

Norman Vanua made 48 and Kiplin Doriga added 18 in a rapid 53-run partnership to put a cat among the pigeons late on, but Josh Davey took four wickets as the Scots held their nerve.

Earlier, Richie Berrington made 70, including three sixes, and Matt Cross supported him well for 45, before Assad Vala’s top order crumbled when faced with a chase that – if successful – would have been the highest in T20Is.

Scotland came into the game on the back of a famous win against Bangladesh, while Papua New Guinea’s tournament debut ended in heavy defeat by Oman.

But Kabua Morea claimed his country’s first wicket in men’s World Cup cricket, swinging a slower delivery through the gate of Scottish captain Kyle Coetzer, before George Munsey, who had taken successive boundaries off the leg spin of Charles Amini just prior, was caught at deep midwicket to give Chad Soper his first of three wickets after missing out on selection against Oman.

Cross, Scotland’s wicketkeeper, and Berrington, the third-ranked allrounder in the world by the ICC’s metrics, added 92 for the third wicket in quick time, though, to negate Papua New Guinea’s early momentum. Cross fell five runs short of a half century, while Berrington was well caught by Amini for the third-highest score by an associate batter at a men’s T20 World Cup.

Once that stand had been broken, however Papua New Guinea displayed their fighting spirit once more, claiming six wickets in the last 10 balls of the innings to restrict Scotland to 165. Morea picked up Chris Greaves, Josh Davey and Mark Watt in the final over, during which Michael Leask was also run out.

pngscot191002

Josh Davey claimed four wickets for Scotland

In reply, Scotland replicated the quality of their bowling display in their first win as Papua New Guinea’s top order struggled once more: Davey cleaned up Tony Ura and Brad Wheal had Lega Siaka caught behind, before the key stand of Vala and Amini was broken by Alasdair Evans, who replaced Safyaan Sharif in Scotland’s side.

He enticed Vala to edge behind, before Amini – so watchable in full flight – was carelessly run out. Papua New Guinea found themselves 35 for 5 at the end of the powerplay once Simon Atai had been caught one-handed by Berrington at point.

Sese Bau counterattacked with 24 but the game appeared to be well and truly over when he slog-swept Greaves into the hands of Wheal. Papua New Guinea, though, kept on coming: Bau’s dismissal triggered a rapid stand between Doriga and Vanua, who unleashed a pair of mighty sixes.

And though they were dismissed within eight runs of each other, there was still time for Morea and Soper to strike sixes that kept their side in the game right until Soper edged Davey through to Cross.

Comments

SERIES/COMPETITIONS

LOADING

STATS

STAY UP TO DATE Sign up to our newsletter...
SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!

Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane, London, SE115DP

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.