The PNG Scholarship boys (PNG Titans) recorded their second win in the Webb Shield Competition by 16 runs over Toowoomba Cavaliers who are one of the favourites to win the shield this season.
On a stinking hot day and a fast outfield, PNG won the toss and didn’t hesitate to bat first. Once again opening pair of Assad Vala & Tony Ura got the PNG titans off to a good start after they raced to 55 after 12 overs. Ura fell soon after for 20 and Vala soon followed for 33 with the score on 68. PNG then lost Charles Amini & Chris Kent cheaply to have them reeling at 4/74. Jason Kila & Chris Amini then steadied the ship with a solid partnership off 84 to get them to 158 before Amini fell for 35. Kila kept the scoreboard ticking with the lower order as they raced to 7/230 at the end of 50 overs. Kila top scored with 62 and had handy contributions from the lower order with Lega Siaka (23), Sese Bau (13) & Norman Vanua (17). The last 17 overs saw PNG score 130 to race to a respectable 7/230.
With a fast outfield and a pitch that favoured the batsman, PNG bowlers & fielders knew that they had too bowl & field extremely well if they were to have a chance of defending 230. Toowoomba started their chase confidently and were on target to chase down the target with ease. The momentum changed when the spinners were introduced as they raced through the middle overs with some very tight bowling. Toowoomba then started to lose wickets regularly and then the game looked as if PNG were going to win comfortably. However, there was another shift in the momentum when big hitter Steven Glover smashed 44 off 21 balls to get the Cavaliers back into contention. When Kent removed the dangerous Glover to pick up his 5th wicket it was game, set & match for PNG as they comfortably closed off the match to restrict Toowoomba to 9/214 off 50 overs and win by 16 runs. Chris Kent was the star with the ball picking up an impressive 5/45 (off 10 overs) with support from Tony Ura 1/34 (8 overs), Charles Amini 2/21 (8 overs) & medium pacer Sese Bau 1/25 (7 overs).
PNG Titans will play their 3rd WEBB Shield match against Tweed Heads on Sunday 11th November.
Source: Cricket PNG
