West Indies secured a five-wicket victory over minnows Papua New Guinea in their opening Group C encounter of the T20 World Cup.
The two-time past champions were set a modest target of 137, but the astute, disciplined bowling of PNG undid them. With just four overs remaining, they were 97 for five, and all-rounder Roston Chase’s unbeaten 42 off 27 balls (four fours, two sixes) stole the show from the powerful Andre Russell (15 not out) to lead their team to victory at 137 for five off 19 overs.
In just three overs, they established an unbroken partnership for 40 wickets, denying PNG the biggest surprise not only in this tournament’s eight editions but in all of international cricket, considering that this was only their second time participating in a global tournament after they lost all three of their games in their debut appearance at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
“Based on what we saw when PNG batted, it was always going to be hard for batsmen now coming in, so I gave myself some time to have the best chance possible and back my skills to get the ball away once I got in,” said
“Man of the Match” Chase, who conceded 26 runs from four overs of off-spin and also held a brilliant catch at backward point to remove PNG captain Assad Vala.
After seamer Alei Nao took Johnson Charles for a wicket with the opening ball of the West Indies chase, Vala led the way with the ball for the underdogs, taking two for 28 from four overs of spin.
The Papuans were motivated by their early success even though Brandon King (34) and Nicholas Pooran (27) made some bad shots.
PNG felt a massive upset when both fell within 11 deliveries of each other and captain Rovman Powell followed, but Chase evened the odds when Russell joined him after Sherfane Rutherford was quickly removed.
“We were 10-15 runs short of what would have been a more competitive target but after losing so many early wickets it was still a good effort,” said Valla in reflecting on the narrow loss.
“We are happy with the fight we showed in trying to defend that total. This is an opportunity for us and we look forward to the challenge to play our best cricket in tournaments and against teams like this.”
Earlier, after PNG was sent to bat, their meek fifty off forty-three balls (six fours, one six) was the sole significant contribution to their score of 136 for eight. The other players to reach the 20-run mark were wicketkeeper Kiplin Doriga (27 not out) and Valla (21), with Russell and Alzarri Joseph, two of the West Indies’ fastest bowlers, leading the charge with two wickets apiece.
“Credit to PNG because they played good cricket and their plans were simple, but at the end it was important for us to get the two points,” said a relieved Powell.
“We need to be better though in all three departments of the game (batting, bowling and fielding). We weren’t quite up to the standard today that we expect of ourselves and we need to improve for the coming matches.”
Photo by T20 World Cup Twitter
