Papua New Guinea’s Barramundis have kicked off the 2024-2026 CWC Challenge League A in Kenya with a stunning victory, defeating Denmark by six wickets.
In cricket, CWC stands for the Cricket World Cup, which is an international championship contested by the national teams of the members of the International Cricket Council (ICC); the tournament is one of the most prestigious in cricket, taking place every four years.
After winning the toss, the Barras elected to bowl first, and Denmark struggled with a slow start, finishing their innings at just 80 runs.
The PNG bowlers were relentless, with Kabua Morea stealing the show by taking five wickets for only 29 runs, earning him the Player of the Match title.
Supporting Morea, Alei Nao and Michael Charlie contributed with impressive bowling performances, each making crucial breakthroughs to dismantle the Danish batting lineup in just 26 overs.
In their chase, the Barras showcased strong batting, needing only 13 overs to secure their first win of the Challenge League.
Hiri Hiri led the charge with a solid 28 not out, supported by Sese Bau and Charles Amini, who each made important contributions to the scorecard.
Despite Denmark’s Saif Ahmad taking two wickets, their bowling could not contain the Barras from racking up the runs needed for victory.
Man of the match went to bowler Kabua Vagi Morea.
This victory marks a significant step for the PNG Men’s National Cricket Team as they aim to regain their ODI status.
ODI stands for One Day International, which is a form of limited-overs cricket where each team bats for a fixed number of overs, typically 50. The format is designed to complete a match in a single day, making it distinct from Test cricket, which can last up to five days.
The Barras are using that confidence to focus on their match against Jersey, scheduled for today, Saturday afternoon, PNG local time. With their confidence soaring, the Barramundis are ready to tackle the next challenge head-on!