MUSCAT, OCT 19
Scotland survived a late fightback by Papua New Guinea (PNG) to post their second straight win in the Group B of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Oman Cricket Academy Grounds in Amerat on Tuesday.
With the 17-run win, Scotland boosted their chances of making it to the Super 12s with four points from two matches.
Scots, who upset group favourites Bangladesh in their first match, posted their highest total in the T20 World Cup by reaching 165-9 in 20 overs after deciding to bat first.
Richie Berrington’s 49-ball 70 was the highlight of the Scotland total.
Berrington hit three sixes — including one of the longest in the tournament at 97 metres — and six fours in his 49-ball knock.
Scotland were 37-2 in the Powerplay.
After losing openers George Munsey and captain Kyle Coetzer, Scotland innings was strengthened by a vital 92-run third-wicket partnership between Berrington and Matthew Cross, who scored 45.
In efforts to raise the run-rate, Scotland lost six wickets in the last two overs for 15 runs but managed to surpass their previous best T20 World Cup score of 156 against Afghanistan in 2016.
Left-arm pacer Kabua Morea took four wickets including three in the last over, while fellow seam bowler Chad Soper bagged three.
Chasing 166 for a win, PNG had a disastrous start with 35-5 at one stage.
FIGHT FROM THE TAIL
In the final phase, Norman Vanua and Kiplin Doriga added 53 from 29 balls for the seventh wicket to create panic in Scotland side.
Vanua hit a fighting 47 from 37 balls, while Doriga added 18.
Fast bowler Josh Davey who claimed a career-best 4-18 sent back Vanua to swing the pendulum towards a Scottish victory.
Charles Amini continued his bad luck with running as he was run-out for a second straight match after a fine throw from Michael Leask from the deep behind square.
Three balls later, Berrington was air-borne to send back Simon Atai off the bowling of Davey.
PNG’s challenge ended at 148 in 19.3 overs, 17 short of the target.
Captain Coetzer appreciated the vital contribution of Berrington.
“Richie has been making crucial contributions consistently for us.”
“Berrington and Cross played outstandingly well to put us in good position today,” Coetzer added.
PNG skipper Assad Vala rued lack of exposure for their inconsistent performance.
“We need more games and exposure against quality opposition that would serve us well in these kind of situations,” Vala said.
“Scotland has a good bowling unit and we crumbled under pressure. Only good knocks from the lower order helped us remain in the game,” he added.
With their second loss PNG are almost out of the tournament with a match against Bangladesh left for them on Thursday.
Scotland play Oman in their final game on the same day.
scoreboard
Scotland
G Munsey c Siaka b Soper 15
K Coetzer b Morea 6
M Cross c Amini b Atai 45
R Berrington c Amini b Soper 70
C MacLeod c Morea b Soper 10
M Leask run out 9
C Greaves c Siaka b Morea 2
M Watt b Morea 0
J Davey c Siaka b Morea 0
A Evans not out 0
Extras (lb4, nb1, w3) 8
Total (9 wickets, 20 overs) 165
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-26, 3-118, 4-151, 5-153, 6-158, 7-165, 8-165, 9-165
Bowling: Pokana 4-0-37-0, Amini 4-0-41-0, Morea 4-0-31-4, Soper 4-0-24-3, Siaka 1-0-8-0, Atai 3-0-20-1
Papua New Guinea
(target 166)
T Ura b Davey 2
L Siaka c Cross b Wheal 9
A Vala c Wheal b Evans 18
C Amini run out 1
S Bau c Wheal b Greaves 24
S Atai c Berrington b Davey 2
N Vanua c Cross b Davey 47
K Doriga st Cross b Watts 18
C Soper c Cross b Davey 16
N Pokana run out (Evans) 1
K Morea not out 6
Extras (lb2, w2) 4
Total (all out, 19.3 overs) 148
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-20, 3-30, 4-33, 5-35, 6-67, 7-120, 8-128, 9-135
Bowling: Wheal 4-1-41-1, Davey 3.3-0-18-4, Evans 3-0-22-1, Watt 4-0-23-1, Leask 2-0-11-0, Greaves 3-0-31-1
