The Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited PNG Barramundis have shot out of the blocks in their campaign to secure a spot in next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a convincing 9 wicket victory over team Vanuatu on Saturday afternoon in front of a very vocal home crowd in Port Moresby. Coming in heavy favorites, the Barras showed resolve and a stunning debut performance by young John Kariko, who claimed a hat trick of wickets to put the icing on the cake. Vanuatu won the toss and Captain Patrick Matautaava elected to bat first. Nalin Nipiko and Junior Kaltapau took the crease with Nipiko being the first of Kariko’s 3 wickets in the second ball of the second over of the match. Vanuatu wicket Keeper, Jarryd Allan managed to calm the storm and settle the Vanuatu side, but they still struggled to score runs, averaging a run rate of 2.4 after the first 5 overs. Allan was the next wicket to fall in the 7th over after getting caught behind by Kipling Doriga off a Norman Vanua special. Three more wickets fell in 3 consecutive overs following Allan’s exit. Kariko claimed his second wicket in Kaltapau, who was caught out by a diving Tony Ura in the offside position, Charles Amini Jnr was also in on the action, bowling both Andrew Mansale and Matautaava. Ronald Tari and Apolinaire Steven looked to set up a partnership, but this was foiled by Kariko who claimed his maiden hat trick when Steven nicked the ball and got caught behind by Dorriga. Tony Ura played like a bucket under a running tap, catching Joshua Rasu out in the deep. Tari was the last to be dismissed in the first innings, Vanuatu setting a target of 71 runs. It was now the Barras turn to bat, but unfortunately Tony Ura, after slotting a magnificent boundary was caught out following two more bowls in the very first order of the second innings. This brought Capitan Assadollah Vala into the fray. Partnering with Dorigga, both men managed to win the game with a partnership of 36 runs of 25 balls.