In a thrilling start to the T20 World Cup, the West Indies edged out Papua New Guinea (PNG) with a tense five-wicket victory on Sunday. Playing on home soil in the Caribbean, the co-hosts faced a formidable challenge from PNG’s spinners but ultimately reached their target of 137 runs with an over to spare.
Sese Bau was the standout performer for PNG, becoming only the second batter from his nation to score a half-century at a T20 World Cup. His impressive 50-run innings anchored PNG’s total of 136 for 8 wickets in 20 overs after West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to field on a spin-friendly wicket.
“Credit has to be given to PNG; their plans were simple, and they played good cricket,” Powell remarked after the match, acknowledging the visitors’ strong performance.
The West Indies’ chase was far from straightforward. PNG’s bowlers applied consistent pressure, leaving the hosts in a precarious position at 97 for 5 after 16 overs. However, Roston Chase emerged as the hero for the West Indies, crafting an unbeaten 42 runs off just 27 balls to guide his team across the finish line.
PNG’s disciplined bowling and fielding efforts kept the match competitive until the penultimate over. Despite the loss, PNG’s captain expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting the significant strides they’ve made on the world stage.
The victory sets a positive tone for the West Indies as they navigate the group stages of the tournament. Meanwhile, PNG will look to build on their strong showing as they prepare for their next match.
On Saturday, co-host USA also enjoyed success in their tournament opener, securing a seven-wicket win over Canada at Grand Prairie, Texas. The T20 World Cup is off to an exciting start, promising cricket fans around the world a series of competitive and entertaining matches.
Reference(s):
West Indies open cricket's T20 World Cup with over Papua New Guinea
cgtn.com
