NEWS
Follow UsWest Indies (WI) defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Match 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. On a slow pitch in Guyana, PNG managed only 136 runs on the board at the loss of eight wickets. With contributions from Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell, West Indies chased down the total in 19 overs.
On paper, it looks like a straightforward win except that it wasn’t. West Indies stuttered through their chase before a quickfire partnership between Russell and Chase saw the side home with an over to spare. Even with the ball in hand, the co-hosts had PNG 15/2 in four overs. A fifty from Sese Bau and a good finish from Kiplin Doriga (27* from 18 balls) allowed PNG to stay in the contest.
“Yeah, really happy with the way we fought. Got wickets in key moments. It's an opportunity and challenge we look forward to,” said the PNG skipper Assad Vala in the post-match interview.
“We knew we missed a trick towards the end. Another 15-20 runs would've been nice. But from the wickets we lost early, to post 136 was a good effort,” Vala shed light on the final moments when the game slipped away from their grasp.
Rovman Powell, the West Indies skipper also praised PNG’s effort in their maiden World Cup game. While he was critical of his team not performing to their potential, he also felt that the team got the job done which matters the most.
“Their plans were simple, and they played some good cricket. It's important to get two points, and that's what we did, Powell said.
“We were at 60-70 percent. I think (PNG's total) a little, 10 or 15, too much. And as a bowling group that's something we need to work on. As a bowling group, that's what we want to tighten up,” he answered.
Roston Chase (0/26 in four overs & 42* from 27 balls) was adjudged the Player of the Match for his all-round contribution. While other West Indies batters struggled against PNG spinners, Chase was at ease at the back end of the innings when the asking rate had touched 10 with four overs to spare. He added 40 runs off 18 balls for the sixth wicket with Russell. Batting at four, Chase was the senior contributor in the partnership, scoring 25 off just nine deliveries.
“I knew it was hard for the batters coming in, so gave myself time and backed my skills. I watched the PNG batters, they took their time and once they got in it was easy to score,” Chase spoke about the tactical side of his match-winning knock.
Powell also acknowledged Chase’s contribution with the bat and the ability to calm his nerves. “To hold his composure towards the end in a pressure game in World Cup, it's pleasing for us,” Powell mentioned.
West Indies have kicked off their campaign on a winning note with this five-wicket win. They will face another Associate nation in their next game — Uganda on June 8 in Guyana. PNG will also face Uganda in their next fixture, on June 5.
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