The Barramundis have confirmed their place in next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after a convincing victory against the Philippines in the ongoing East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
As the tournament hosts and favorites, Papua New Guinea (PNG) showcased their dominance throughout the Qualifier stage. Led by Assad Vala, their captain, they maintained a perfect record, securing wins in all five of their matches, twice against both Vanuatu and the Philippines, and once against Japan.
How PNG sealed their qualification:
In their first match against Vanuatu, the 19-year-old John Kariko stood out with an outstanding bowling performance, claiming figures of 3/6 and restricting Vanuatu to a mere 71/8. PNG chased down the target comfortably in just 6.3 overs, winning by nine wickets.
Next, they made headlines with a remarkable performance against the Philippines, largely thanks to Kabua Morea’s exceptional five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick. After posting a competitive total of 162/7 while batting first, PNG’s Morea wreaked havoc on the Philippines’ batting lineup, reducing them to a paltry 45.
Continuing their impressive form, PNG secured comfortable victories against Japan and Vanuatu in the following matches, winning by six wickets and 39 runs, respectively.
In their latest encounter, PNG displayed their caliber once again, achieving a resounding 100-run win against the Philippines in Port Moresby. An impressive 118-run opening partnership set the stage for a massive score of 229/6 in their 20 overs.
The target proved insurmountable for the Philippines as PNG’s bowlers kept them in check, allowing them to reach only 129/7, thus confirming PNG’s qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup with one game remaining against Japan on Saturday, 29 July.
