Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
- Joined
- 26 May 2011
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PNG will meet Samoa and Fiji will tackle Vanuatu in this afternoons semifinals of the Pepsi ICC East-Asia Pacific Division 1 after Fiji upset Vanuatu to move into 2nd place and Samoa couldn't overhaul the Japan total in the required overs to overtake Vanuatu on net run rate and finished 4th.
On Amini Park Japan came out with a point to prove against a Samoan team desperate for an improved net run rate racing to 0-49 thanks to some sensible batting from Qureshi Naeemuddin who finished with 42. After the loss of the first Japan wicket Jarrad Shearer came to the crease and put together his best innings of the tournament ending with 44 not out to guide his team to a competitive 3-123 after 20 overs.
Samoa needed quick runs to improve their net run rate but despite some solid batting from Sean Cotter the Japanese kept the rate below six an over thanks to some tight opening bowling from Kazuyuki Ogawa. Then when Naoki Miyaji claimed the prized scalp of Ben Mailata the Japanese were heading for an unlikely victory.
"It felt great (to get Ben out). It was a good ball that had a bit of a good shape and got the knick so if felt great," said Miyaji.
However despite Mailata’s dismissal Samoa kept the runs ticking over and eventually got over the line with four balls to spare and six wickets in hand. The loss ends Japan T20 campaign here in PNG and Miyaji says it was good to finish strong but unfortunate to walk away without a victory.
"We're quite disappointed that we didn't get over the line but we really focused on bowling good line and length and we did that well so that was a great positive," he said.
On Colts Cricket Ground Kitione Tavo and Imran Khan bowled beautifully for the first 5 overs to have Vanuatu in all sorts of trouble early at 3-10 with yesterday’s star Simpson Obed already back in the sheds.
Things then went from bad to worse when Andrew Mansale was stumped off the bowling of Waisake Tukana for 15. From that point on Vanuatu were never really in the hunt eventually dismissed for 73.
Fiji had few problems in the run chase despite a one or two anxious moments facing the spin of Mansale and Obed and eventually passed the total with five overs to spare.
Imran Khan one of the keys to setting up the win with a magnificent 1-6 off 3 overs said his side was thrilled with the performance.
"We're trying to improve every game and today was great," said Khan. "We bowled really well with the ball and finished off with the bat so it was a great team effort."
When asked about the challenge of backing up against Vanuatu again in this afternoon’s semifinal Khan said;
"We can't really focus too much on if they try and change their game plan. We just need to make sure we execute everything well and we will be fine."
Fixture below for this afternoon's semifinals:
2pm Amini Park - PNG v Samoa
2pm Colts Cricket Ground - Fiji v Vanuatu
Brief scores:
At Amini Park: Japan 3-123, 20 overs (J Shearer 44 not out, Q Naeemuddin 42; N Vaasili 1-25)
Samoa 4-124, 19.2 overs (S Cotter 41 not out, F Mulivai 35; K Ogawa 1-21)
Samoa won by 6 wickets
At Colts Cricket Ground: Vanuatu 10-73, 16.5 overs (K Kenneth 16; K Tavo 2-18)
Fiji 4-77, 15.0 overs (J Bulabalavu 21; A Mansale 2-9)
Fiji won by 6 wickets
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16172_1309924740
On Amini Park Japan came out with a point to prove against a Samoan team desperate for an improved net run rate racing to 0-49 thanks to some sensible batting from Qureshi Naeemuddin who finished with 42. After the loss of the first Japan wicket Jarrad Shearer came to the crease and put together his best innings of the tournament ending with 44 not out to guide his team to a competitive 3-123 after 20 overs.
Samoa needed quick runs to improve their net run rate but despite some solid batting from Sean Cotter the Japanese kept the rate below six an over thanks to some tight opening bowling from Kazuyuki Ogawa. Then when Naoki Miyaji claimed the prized scalp of Ben Mailata the Japanese were heading for an unlikely victory.
"It felt great (to get Ben out). It was a good ball that had a bit of a good shape and got the knick so if felt great," said Miyaji.
However despite Mailata’s dismissal Samoa kept the runs ticking over and eventually got over the line with four balls to spare and six wickets in hand. The loss ends Japan T20 campaign here in PNG and Miyaji says it was good to finish strong but unfortunate to walk away without a victory.
"We're quite disappointed that we didn't get over the line but we really focused on bowling good line and length and we did that well so that was a great positive," he said.
On Colts Cricket Ground Kitione Tavo and Imran Khan bowled beautifully for the first 5 overs to have Vanuatu in all sorts of trouble early at 3-10 with yesterday’s star Simpson Obed already back in the sheds.
Things then went from bad to worse when Andrew Mansale was stumped off the bowling of Waisake Tukana for 15. From that point on Vanuatu were never really in the hunt eventually dismissed for 73.
Fiji had few problems in the run chase despite a one or two anxious moments facing the spin of Mansale and Obed and eventually passed the total with five overs to spare.
Imran Khan one of the keys to setting up the win with a magnificent 1-6 off 3 overs said his side was thrilled with the performance.
"We're trying to improve every game and today was great," said Khan. "We bowled really well with the ball and finished off with the bat so it was a great team effort."
When asked about the challenge of backing up against Vanuatu again in this afternoon’s semifinal Khan said;
"We can't really focus too much on if they try and change their game plan. We just need to make sure we execute everything well and we will be fine."
Fixture below for this afternoon's semifinals:
2pm Amini Park - PNG v Samoa
2pm Colts Cricket Ground - Fiji v Vanuatu
Brief scores:
At Amini Park: Japan 3-123, 20 overs (J Shearer 44 not out, Q Naeemuddin 42; N Vaasili 1-25)
Samoa 4-124, 19.2 overs (S Cotter 41 not out, F Mulivai 35; K Ogawa 1-21)
Samoa won by 6 wickets
At Colts Cricket Ground: Vanuatu 10-73, 16.5 overs (K Kenneth 16; K Tavo 2-18)
Fiji 4-77, 15.0 overs (J Bulabalavu 21; A Mansale 2-9)
Fiji won by 6 wickets
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16172_1309924740
