Papua New Guinea pips Canada in WCL2 and secures ODI status
The final and third-place decider game were accorded ODI status by the ICC.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) managed to beat Canada by the skin of teeth by virtue of Net Run Rate to secure ODI status and qualify for the 2019-21 ICC Cricket World League 2. The side defeated table toppers Oman comprehensively in their final league game of 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division 2 to finish with four points from five matches. Canada also finished with the same number of points but PNG proved to be the luckier lot by finishing 0.012 points better than their North American opponents.
The World Cricket League Division 2 is being played in Windhoek, Namibia, and features six teams. This tournament is a part of the 2017-19 cycle of the World Cricket League which will decide the qualifiers for the 2023 ICC World Cup that will be played in India. The final and third-place decider game were accorded ODI status by the ICC as per reports in ESPNcricinfo.
PNG humble table toppers Oman by 145 runs
Coming back to PNG, Oman won the toss and sent the opponents to bat and it seemed to be a masterstroke as PNG lost five wickets for only 32 runs. Their first five batsmen returned to the pavilion with single-digit figures and the match seemed to be going one way. Opening bowler Fayyaz Butt took four of the top five wickets. However, PNG did not yet give up as Kiplin Doriga (65) and Sese Bau (80) added invaluable 129 runs for the sixth wicket to take the score to 161 and following some late innings flourish, the side reached a decent total of 221 for 8 in 50 overs.
Oman had an equally disastrous batting performance and they did not find any solid partnership for any wicket. Khawar Ali, the captain who opened, batted through the innings to remain not out on 29 even as Oman were skittled out for 76 to lose by 145 runs. Opening bowler Nosana Pokaina took five wickets for 10 runs while Chad Soper took three for 15 to polish off the Oman innings.
Hosts Namibia and the United States were the other teams to have proceeded to the next stage. Canada, despite their decisive 40-run victory over the US in their final game, lost out narrowly. They were relegated along with Hong Kong to ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.
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