by Skola Sengi – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
Their World Cup qualifying campaign now looks slim, as the Garamuts suffered their first loss against Fiji on day one of the 2015 East Asia-Pacific Trophy.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Garamuts struggled to secure runs in the opening overs as Fiji bowler, Sosiceni Weleilakeba claimed the first three wickets.
Sere Sam added 49 runs to steady the pace before the Garamuts were bowled out after 36.5 overs.
Fiji was left to chase 133 runs and their determination to beat the Garamuts was evident in their defensive match plan. The Garamuts’ bowlers wrestled with the Fiji batsman once again, when Fiji tossed 73 runs off batsman Peni Volavola.
In the end, Fiji walked away with 134 runs after 31.4 overs, winning by five wickets. The Garamuts now sit behind Fiji and Vanuatu on the leader board.
They will hope to secure a win on day two against Samoa to keep their World Cup qualifying campaign alive. Another loss on tour will trim down any chance of the Garamuts qualifying for the Word Cup this year.
The PNG Garamuts have won five consecutive tournament campaigns since their inception in 2001. They made their seventh under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup appearance in 2013.
