T20 World Cup: WI begin campaign with win over PNG
Two-time champions West Indies began their 2024 ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a win over Papua New Guinea in Guyana. The Caribbeans chased down 137 despite faltering on a spin-friendly Guyana track. Roston Chase powered WI to victory after they were reduced to 97/5. Earlier, a concerted bowling effort helped WI restrict PNG to 136/8. Sese Bau cracked a historic fifty for PNG.
WI bowlers thwart PNG as they score 136/8
PNG's top order struggled against the WI spinners, being invited to bat. They were 50/4 approaching the 10-over mark, with the ball gripping firmly. While Bau blocked an end, the WI bowlers hunted in packs. Kiplin Doriga's unbeaten 27(18) propelled PNG to 136/8. For WI, Akeal Hosein took a wicket for just nine runs, while Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph scalped two wickets each.
WI get home despite stumbling
West Indies' run-chase started on a positive note, but Alei Nao dismissed Johnson Charles departed for a golden duck. Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran ruled for the next seven overs, taking WI past 60. However, the duo was sent back to back-to-back overs. PNG choked the Caribbean batters thereafter, reducing them to 97/5. However, Chase and Russell fueled WI's five-wicket win in 19 overs.
Bau smashes 43-ball 50 for PNG
PNG, after being put in to bat, lost opener Tony Ura early. Lega Siaka also departed before the 10-run mark. While the Caribbean bowlers continued to strike, Bau firmly held his end. He was eventually dismissed by Joseph for a 43-ball 50 (6 fours and 1 six). PNG were down to 98/6 with his departure. Notably, Bau slammed his fourth half-century in T20I cricket.
Second PNG batter with this record
As per Cricbuzz, Bau has become the second batter with a 50+ score for PNG in the T20 World Cup. He joins Assad Vala, who slammed 56(43) against Oman in the 2021 edition in Al Amerat.
Bau races past 900 T20 runs
Bau made his T20I debut in 2016 in a game Ireland at Townsville. The 31-year-old has raced past 900 runs in the shortest format. In 53 T20Is, he owns 941 runs at an average of 24.76. His strike-rate of 112.15 is on the lower side.
50 T20I wickets for Andre Russell
WI all-rounder Russell dismissed Charles Amini and Chad Soper in the first innings. He conceded just 19 runs in three overs. With this, Russell raced to 50 wickets in the T20I format. He accomplished the milestone with his first wicket. Russell has become just the sixth WI bowler to complete a half-century of T20I scalps. Playing his 76th T20I, Russell now owns 51 scalps.
Amini completes 1,000 T20I runs for PNG
PNG batter Charles Amini scored a 12-ball 14, a knock were he failed to find a boundary. During the knock, Amini completed 1,000 runs for PNG in T20I cricket. He became only the third batter with this record after Tony Ura and Assad Vala. Amini now owns 1,006 runs from 57 T20Is at an average of 25.15.
Chase's match-winning knock
The middle-over phase (8-16) saw WI score just 36 runs. They also lost four wickets in this process. However, Chase counter-attacked when 37 runs were required in the last three overs. Russell paired up with Chase, who smashed a 27-ball 42*. The latter smashed 4 fours and 2 sixes. Earlier, the off-spinner bagged figures worth 0/26 in four overs.
Two maiden overs in a T20 WC match
PNG's Alei Nao and Assad Vala bowled a maiden over each in the match. As per Kausthub Gudipati, PNG have become the first associate side to bowl two maiden overs against a full-member side in a T20 World Cup match.
