By Shane Saroya – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
Hebou PNG Barramundis were bowled out for 200 in their second innings, on the final day to lose by 145 runs against Ireland in Round 3 of the Inter-Continental Cup in Townsville, Australia.
Starting the day at 1/50 with first innings centurion Assad Vala and Vani Vagi Morea at the fold.
Vala and Morea started steadily, before Tim Murtugh took the prized wicket of Vala to leave the Hebou PNG Barramundis at 2/64.
Morea and Mahuru Dai fell shortly after to leave the Hebou PNG Barramundis in trouble at 4/83.
Charles Amini Jnr tried to take back the momentum from Ireland team with some aggressive batting, before being stumped off Andrew McBrine for 16.
Captain Jack Vare then joined Sese Bau to take the Hebou PNG Barramundis to 5/131 at lunch.
After lunch, Vare and Bau batted very sensibly to take the score to 172 before Bau was cleaned bowled by Rankin for 45.
Rankin then trapped Vare soon after for 31 and when Norman Vanua was caught behind for a duck, Rankin had taken three wickets in the space of fourteen balls to have the Hebou PNG Barramundis reeling at 8/175.
Some lower order hitting by John Boge Reva could not stop the inevitable, with the Hebou PNG Barramundis being bowled out for 200 just before tea.
Barramundis Captain Jack Vara, said the team is very disappointed of losing against Ireland but despite it all his team played some aggressive cricket and will once again take positives from this match with stand outs such as Norman Vanua with impressive blowing effort in the first innings and Assad Vala once again showed his class this match, bringing up his second century in the Inter-Continental Cup in three matches and they are very much looking forward to take on Namibia later on in the year.
After notching up their third victory in as many matches, Ireland sit top of the Inter-Continental Cup Points Table on 60 points, while the Hebou PNG Barramundis are currently sitting in sixth place with 20 points.
Source: Cricket PNG
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