ICC CHALLENGE LEAGUE 2- PNG vs Qatar (MATCH SUMMARY)

Match Day 3: PNG vs Qatar

Date: 01/10/24

The Kumul Petroleum Barramundis bounced back from their loss on Saturday to defeat Qatar by 7 wickets in a high scoring match at the Ruaraka Sports Club Oval, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Qatar won the toss and did not hesitate to bat first on a good pitch, and also given that they had batted second in their two previous games. Barras opening bowlers Kabua Morea and Alei Nao swung the ball early but as the game progressed with the shine off the new ball and the pitch losing some of its early moisture, the Qatar batsman started to make use of the flat pitch, hitting boundaries consistently.

The Barras bowlers toiled hard all day but their ill-discipline, after getting early wickets, gave the momentum to the Qatar batsman. Opening batsman and top scorer for Qatar, Kamran Khan (94), blasted the Barras bowlers all over the park picking up boundaries at will with his straight and disciplined hitting. Good support from Muhammad Tanveer (68) and Tamoor Sajjad (47) saw the Qatar team finish on a massive 8 for 298 off their allotted 50 overs.

In the Barras innings, Tony Ura (111) and Sese Bau (5) started well before Bau had to retire hurt. Short partnerships between Ura and Gaudi Toka, and then Ura and the returning Bau, brought in captain and man of the match, Assad Vala (129 not out).

Ura and Vala were relentless and put on a match winning partnership of 177 runs to take the game away from Qatar before Ura got out on 29th over. The Barras needed a calm head to partner with Vala and Hiri Hiri (42 not out) did just to perfection. Vala and Hiri put on a solid 91 run partnership to seal the victory for the PNG Barramundis in the 41st over.

The Barramundis now have two days off before taking on Kuwait at the same ground on Friday.

Score Summary

Qatar Innings

Qatar 8/298 off 50 overs

K.Khan 94

M.Tanveer 68

PNG Bowling

S.Bau 2/43

K.Morea 2/49

PNG Innings

PNG 3/299 off 41.4 overs

A.Vala 129*

T.Ura 111

H.Hiri 42*

Qatar Bowling

M.Murad 1/42

A.Borham 1/70

 Compiled by: Rodney Maha (Barras TM)