http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cricket League East Asia-Pacific Region Division One T20 - Papua New Guinea v Samoa: 1st Innings Recap
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Papua-New-Guinea-c41002 has set a massive target of 235 for Samoa in the first semi-final clash of the ICC World Cricket League East Asia-Pacific Region Division One Twenty20 championship, taking place at Port Moresby, today, July 6, 2011.
The crucial toss was won by the PNG skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rarva-Dikana-c84041, who opted to bat first without any hesitation since the conditions were perfect for the batsmen.
As expected, the two in-form openers, Asad Vala and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tony-Pala-Ura-c94235, took the full advantage of the batting-friendly track, hammering Samoa bowlers without any respect.
The right-and-left handed combination worked for the home side as the tourists seemed helpless in front of the thrilling stroke-play by the two opening batsmen.
Vala and Tony continued their ruthless batting show after reaching their half-centuries and subsequently racked up a fantastic 186-run-stand, the highest first-wicket partnership so far in the tournament.
After a long and hard struggle, Naa Vaasili was the first to provide Samoa team with the vital breakthrough, picking up the dangerous Vala when he was just eight runs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Short-c90107 of his second consecutive century in the competition.
Vala walked out of the park after smashing an aggressive 92-run-knock including nine lovely boundaries and two huge sixes.
Soon after Vala’s departure, Tony also lost his concentration but before giving away his wicket, he achieved his first-ever three-figure score. Tony hit a thrilling innings of 102 off just 53 balls before Sean Cotter produced a wicket-taking delivery.
After striking the ball for 11 fours and four mighty sixes, the 21-one-year old batsman tried another http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Griffith-c919 one but the mistimed stroke went straight into the hands of Tiafala Alastasi, who made no mistake.
After Vala and Tony’s exit, the rest of PNG batsmen were not able to carry the momentum forward. While http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Joel-Tom-c67155 added 12 runs, 15 extras helped the home side to reach a decent total of 234 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted quota of 20 overs.
PNG’s innings was a complete entertainment by the two openers who gave Samoa side no chance to come back into the game during their stay at the crease.
From the Samoan bowling department, every bowler went for over 10 runs per over, except Faasao Mulivai, who emerged as the best bower with comparatively impressive figures of three for 36 in the four overs. While Cotter and Vaasili grabbed one wicket each,
the efforts of every other bowler went in vain.
To step into the final game of the tournament, the Samoa side now needs 235 runs at a scoring rate of almost 12 runs per over.
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