BLAZING TON: Papua New Guinea opening batsman Lega Siaki scored 112 not out to help win the game against Namibia.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 230114AW07BOP
BLAZING TON: Papua New Guinea opening batsman Lega Siaki scored 112 not out to help win the game against Namibia.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 230114AW07BOP
Papua New Guinea joined Namibia at the top of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 Group B standings, when the Pacific nation comprehensively outclassed Namibia yesterday at the Bay Oval Two at Mount Maunganui.
Namibia fancied their chances with the bat and elected to take first use of thebatting strip on the Bay Oval 2 after winning the toss. They were quickly in trouble, with most of their top order failing to fire, and were 4-16 with two balls remaining in the fifth over.
It was left to Namibia's number four batsman Craig Williams to attempt to stop the PNG bowler's carnage with a hard-fought 27 runs.
When Williams went with the score at 5-67, Gerry Synman answered the call to duty and was a rock at one end on his way to a fighting 54 off 97 balls. Snyman's departure with the score board showing 137-8, produced a rearguard action from the tail, however it was all in vain as Namibia were removed for 163 with eight balls remaining. Mahura Dai was the best of the PNG bowlers returning 3-34, while Charles Amini (2-24) Chris Amini (2-25) and Pipi Raho (2-25) each took two wickets.
Papua New Guinea opening batsman Lega Siaki was determined to have an early finish to his day, taking to the opposition bowling from the opening ball. He showed no respect for the vaunted Namibian bowling attack and flayed them all around the top ground at the Bay Oval. Siaki carried his bat and finished with an unbeaten 112 off just 82 balls, which included nine fours and seven sixes.
The dashing PNG batsman, who was sitting in third place in the CWCQ batting stakes entering the Namibia match, advanced his tournament total to 294 with the prospect of more runs to come in the Super Six.
Both Papua New Guinea and Namibia finished the Group B round robin play on six points and have qualified for the Super Six. Kenya upset The Netherlands in the other Group B game yesterday, with the CWCQ rules deciding which team has missed the Super Six - and will come back to the Bay Oval to fight out the Seventh to Tenth playoffs.
