On Sunday, West Indies’ co-hosts fought hard before finally securing a five-wicket win over spirited Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the T20 World Cup opener in Georgetown.
PNG had registered 136 for eight with a gritty fifty from Sese Bau (50 off 43) despite losing their first four wickets for just 50 runs.
West Indies are two-time world champions and they have a star-studded line-up capable of chasing down the small target without sweating. Nonetheless, on a slower surface, the spinners and medium pacers of PNG required them to work hard for victory.
Roston Chase (42* off 27) and Andre Russell (15* off 9) produced a vital rescue job to enable the West Indies to prevail after reaching home in the penultimate over.
Although there was a twenty-minute rain break during West Indies’ innings, no overs were lost.
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The shower came when home team was at 8 for one in second over and it could have been two down had Alei Nao’s lbw review against Nicholas Pooran been successful at the same score.
Bau rescued PNG’s innings that were tottering at 50 for four by adding valuable partnership of 44 runs with Charles Amini (12).
West Indies brought in three spinners while electing to bowl after winning the toss anticipating turn.
Assistance from Akeal Hosein’s very first ball showed that this pitch would favor spinners more than pace bowlers.
However, it was Tony Ura who fell victim to Romario Shepherd as he edged him behind on his second delivery of this match. The batter provided a thick edge as the ball seamed away from him.
After an arm ball by Hosein got rid of number three Lega Siaka, Vala (21 off 22 balls) was sent back by Alzarri Joseph. Pulling out those couple of crisps in the cover region, Vala was beautifully held by backward point-fielder Roston Chase.
In the previous inning of PNG, one of the best moments was when Vala hit Chase over extra-cover for a massive six
Bau continued to ensure that few boundaries would be there while PNG sought consolidation.
A left-handed bat like Vala, Bau tonked left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie for six and couple of fours thereby infusing life into the innings.
After his departure, the associate nation did rather well to get close to the 140-run mark.
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