Cricket is a game that brings people together, no matter where they’re from or how old they are. On June 2, 2024, at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, the Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. It was a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats, as the underdog PNG team gave the co-hosts a real scare. Let’s dive into this exciting match, break down the scorecard, and relive the moments that made it unforgettable.
The Stage is Set
The T20 World Cup is one of cricket’s biggest stages, and for PNG, this was only their second appearance in the tournament. Facing the West Indies, a team with a rich cricketing history and two T20 World Cup titles (2012 and 2016), was no small task. The West Indies, playing on home soil, were expected to dominate, but PNG came ready to fight. The crowd in Guyana was buzzing, and with a bit of rain in the air, the stage was set for a dramatic showdown.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of the fresh pitch and possible rain interruptions. PNG, led by captain Assad Vala, was ready to bat and set a challenging total. The match was a classic David vs. Goliath story, and what unfolded was a game full of heart, skill, and surprises.
Papua New Guinea’s Innings: A Spirited Effort
PNG’s batting lineup knew they had to dig deep against a strong West Indies bowling attack. The team got off to a rocky start, losing opener Tony Ura early for just 2 runs, caught behind off Romario Shepherd’s bowling. Lega Siaka followed soon after, bowled by Akeal Hosein for 1 run, leaving PNG at 7/2 in just the second over. Things looked grim, but this was when PNG showed their fighting spirit.
Captain Assad Vala and Sese Bau steadied the ship. Vala scored 21 runs off 22 balls, hitting two fours and a six, before being caught at backward point by Roston Chase off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling. At 34/3 after the powerplay (the first six overs), PNG needed someone to anchor the innings. Sese Bau stepped up, playing a fantastic knock of 50 runs off 43 balls, including six fours and a six. His flick shot was particularly effective, earning him 9 runs with that stroke alone. Bau’s half-century was the backbone of PNG’s innings, giving them hope of a competitive total.
However, the West Indies bowlers, led by Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph, kept the pressure on. Russell was the standout, taking 2 wickets for 19 runs in his three overs, including a pinpoint yorker to dismiss Chad Soper. Joseph also picked up two wickets, including Bau’s, with a clever slower ball. Hiri Hiri (2 runs) and Charles Amini (12 runs) fell in quick succession, leaving PNG at 98/6 in the 16th over.
Kiplin Doriga, PNG’s wicketkeeper, played a crucial role towards the end, remaining not out on 27 runs off 18 balls, with three fours. His aggressive batting, alongside Chad Soper’s 10 runs, helped PNG push their total to 136/8 in their 20 overs. Extras (9 runs, including 7 wides) also gave PNG a small boost. While 136 wasn’t a massive score, PNG’s captain Vala later said they felt it was competitive, though they missed a chance to add another 10-15 runs.
The West Indies bowlers did a solid job, with Akeal Hosein (1/9 in 3 overs) and Gudakesh Motie (1/24 in 3 overs) keeping things tight. Roston Chase bowled economically too, giving away 26 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. PNG’s total was modest, but on a tricky pitch, it was enough to challenge the West Indies’ batting lineup.
West Indies’ Chase: A Rollercoaster Ride
Chasing 137 runs in 20 overs seemed like a straightforward task for the West Indies, a team packed with power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, and captain Rovman Powell. But PNG’s bowlers had other ideas, turning what could have been a walk in the park into a nail-biting contest.
The West Indies innings got off to a shaky start when Johnson Charles was trapped lbw by Alei Nao for a duck (0 runs) in the first over. Nao’s brilliant opening spell included a wicket-maiden, and he nearly had Pooran out lbw too, but PNG didn’t review the decision, and Pooran survived. Brandon King, on the other hand, looked in fine form, smashing 34 runs off 29 balls with seven fours. He and Pooran (27 runs off 27 balls, with a four and two sixes) put on a crucial 53-run partnership for the second wicket, taking West Indies to 61/2 by the 8th over.
Just when it seemed like the West Indies were cruising, PNG struck back. John Kariko dismissed Pooran, caught at long-on, and Assad Vala got King out, caught at deep midwicket with a beautifully flighted delivery. Suddenly, West Indies were 63/3, and the pressure was on. Rovman Powell (15 runs) and Sherfane Rutherford (2 runs) struggled to get going, with Powell falling to Chad Soper and Rutherford caught by Doriga off Vala’s bowling. At 97/5 in the 16th over, needing 40 runs off the last 24 balls, the West Indies were in deep trouble.
Enter Roston Chase and Andre Russell. Chase, who hadn’t taken a wicket while bowling but kept things tight, now took charge with the bat. His unbeaten 42 off 27 balls, including four fours and two sixes, was a masterclass in composure under pressure. His off-drive and slog sweep were particularly effective, earning him 11 and 6 runs respectively. Russell, known for his explosive hitting, played a supporting role with an unbeaten 15 off 9 balls, including a massive six over square leg.
The turning point came in the 18th over, bowled by Vala, which went for 18 runs. Chase smashed a six over long-off and a four down the ground, shifting the momentum firmly in West Indies’ favor. In the 19th over, bowled by Kabua Morea, Chase hit two more fours, and Russell sealed the game with a single to long-on. West Indies finished at 137/5 in 19 overs, winning by 5 wickets with 6 balls to spare.
The Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Breaking it Down
Below is the full Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard, showing how each player performed with bat and ball.
|
Papua New Guinea Innings (20 overs maximum) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tony Ura c †Pooran b Shepherd |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
|
Assad Vala (c) c Chase b Joseph |
21 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 95.45 |
|
Lega Siaka b Hosein |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Sese Bau b Joseph |
50 | 43 | 6 | 1 | 116.27 |
|
Hiri Hiri c Powell b Motie |
2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
|
Charles Amini c †Pooran b Russell |
12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
|
Kiplin Doriga † not out |
27 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
|
Chad Soper b Russell |
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 111.11 |
|
Alei Nao run out (Joseph) |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
|
Kabua Morea not out |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 7) |
9 | ||||
|
Total (20 overs, RR: 6.80) |
136/8 | ||||
|
Did not bat: John Kariko |
|
Fall of Wickets |
Score |
Over |
|---|---|---|
|
1st (Tony Ura) |
5 | 1.5 |
|
2nd (Lega Siaka) |
7 | 2.1 |
|
3rd (Assad Vala) |
34 | 5.6 |
|
4th (Hiri Hiri) |
50 | 8.5 |
|
5th (Charles Amini) |
94 | 14.6 |
|
6th (Sese Bau) |
98 | 16.3 |
|
7th (Chad Soper) |
122 | 18.6 |
|
8th (Alei Nao) |
130 | 19.3 |
|
West Indies Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Akeal Hosein |
3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3.00 |
|
Romario Shepherd |
3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.66 |
|
Andre Russell |
3 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 6.33 |
|
Roston Chase |
4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 6.50 |
|
Alzarri Joseph |
4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
|
Gudakesh Motie |
3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 8.00 |
|
West Indies Innings (Target: 137 runs) |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brandon King c Siaka b Vala |
34 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 117.24 |
|
Johnson Charles lbw b Nao |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Nicholas Pooran † c Ura b Kariko |
27 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 100.00 |
|
Roston Chase not out |
42 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 155.55 |
|
Rovman Powell (c) c †Doriga b Soper |
15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 107.14 |
|
Sherfane Rutherford c †Doriga b Vala |
2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
|
Andre Russell not out |
15 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 166.66 |
|
Extras (lb 2) |
2 | ||||
|
Total (19 overs, RR: 7.21) |
137/5 | ||||
|
Did not bat: Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie |
|
Fall of Wickets |
Score |
Over |
|---|---|---|
|
1st (Johnson Charles) |
8 | 1.1 |
|
2nd (Nicholas Pooran) |
61 | 8.1 |
|
3rd (Brandon King) |
63 | 9.5 |
|
4th (Rovman Powell) |
85 | 13.6 |
|
5th (Sherfane Rutherford) |
97 | 15.6 |
|
Papua New Guinea Bowling |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kabua Morea |
3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 10.00 |
|
Alei Nao |
2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 4.50 |
|
Chad Soper |
3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 6.33 |
|
Sese Bau |
1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 18.00 |
|
John Kariko |
4 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
|
Assad Vala |
4 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
|
Charles Amini |
2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
Key Moments and Performances
The match was full of moments that kept fans glued to their seats. Sese Bau’s 50 was a highlight for PNG, showing that they could compete with the best. His ability to find gaps and hit boundaries kept PNG in the game. Kiplin Doriga’s late flourish added vital runs, and PNG’s bowlers, especially Alei Nao and John Kariko, made the West Indies work hard for every run. Assad Vala’s 2 wickets for 28 runs, including the dismissals of King and Rutherford, nearly turned the game in PNG’s favor.
For the West Indies, Roston Chase was the hero, earning the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 42 and tight bowling. Andre Russell’s all-round contribution (2/19 and 15* off 9) was crucial, and Brandon King’s 34 set the tone early in the chase. The West Indies’ experience showed in the final overs, but they admitted they weren’t at their best, with captain Powell noting they gave away 10-15 runs too many while bowling.
What This Match Meant
For PNG, this game was a statement. They may have lost, but they pushed a cricketing powerhouse to the brink. Their disciplined bowling and spirited batting showed they’re not just here to make up the numbers. As captain Vala said, playing against top teams like the West Indies is a chance to learn and grow. PNG’s next matches against Uganda, Afghanistan, and New Zealand in Group C would be opportunities to cause more upsets.
For the West Indies, the win was a relief but also a wake-up call. As co-hosts, they’re expected to go far in the tournament, but this match showed they can’t take any team lightly. Roston Chase’s calm head under pressure was a positive sign, and the team’s ability to pull through in a tight chase will boost their confidence.
Why This Match Matters to Everyone
This game was more than just a Papua New Guinea National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard. It was about passion, heart, and the beauty of cricket. For young fans watching, it showed that even a small nation like PNG can take on giants and make them sweat. For older fans, it was a reminder of why T20 cricket is so exciting—every ball can change the game. The match also highlighted the growth of cricket in places like PNG, where players like Tony Ura and Assad Vala are inspiring a new generation.
