The second game of the ICC World T20 between the West Indies and Papua New Guinea ought to have been a walk in the park for the 2-time champions. The team from the Pacific is new to the international cricketing scene. Playing in only their second major ICC tournament.
So for a powerhouse team like the West Indies, this should have been the opportunity to roll over this inexperienced side. But it was not to be. The game, as it turned out was no walk in the park for the co-hosts of the tournament, as the minnows put up a decent performance. Here’s a breakdown.
Papua New Guinea Restricted the Strong West Indian Lineup
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Having lost the toss and put the onus was on the new side to put up a decent score. And in games like this when going up against a much stronger opposition the first point to consider is to not crumble, which is what the New Guinea team managed.
Despite getting off to a shaky start having lost 2 wickets for 7 runs the batsman recovered well enough to 5 for 94 in the 15th over. At this point, further acceleration and some luck could have taken them closer to the 160 mark that the team was likely eyeing. But it was not meant to be as the underdogs lost wickets at key moments and were held down by a disciplined West Indian bowling lineup.
The top scorer for Papua New Guinea was Sese Bau who led the way with a solid 50 off 43. Besides him, captain Assad Vala contributed 21 and Kiplin Doriga made 27. However, there was no big hitting at the end or indeed throughout the New Guinea innings. Hence they managed only 136.
West Indies – Huff and Puff a Little Before the End
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Despite losing Johnston Charles for a duck, the Windies chase never looked in doubt. Every time a wicket fell the batsman coming in managed to hold his own, and helped keep the scoreboard moving. Decent scores by Roston Chase and Brando King who scored 42 and 34 respectively helped steady the ship.
However, this did get a bit bogged down in the middle, except Roston Chase, and Andre Russell later down the order, no one else was able to up the ante in a significant way. In a way like the Papua New Guinea team. Eventually, the West Indies ended the game, reaching their target with one over to spare. Whilst the result was never in doubt, it does raise some questions about the efficiency of the team.
Final Takeaways for the Two Teams
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In big tournaments, the caliber of the top teams is often measured by how ruthlessly they push aside weaker opposition. This was not on show today as far as the West Indies were concerned, who were pushed to some extent by the smaller side.
For the Papua New Guinea cricket team, there is a lot to take heart. A spirited batting performance, some tight bowling, and a willingness to fight till the end. The goal must be to keep improving on these positives and see what comes next.
Also Read: Chris Woakes Takes Emotional Break After Father Loss 2024
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books and in his free time, he makes YouTube videos on topics like religion, theology, and current events. You can find his work here.
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