Captain Henao Thomas Leads Black Bass to First Isuzu Women’s T20 Smash Title
Port Moresby: The Black Bass have etched their name in cricket history, lifting the Isuzu Women’s T20 Smash trophy after a gripping 7-run win over the Mudmen in Saturday’s final at Amini Park. The victory capped off an intense week of cricket and breakthrough performances with the first-time captain Henao Jean Thomas, who led her team to be the Champions.
Speaking after the win, Black Bass captain, Henao Thomas, shared her pride in her team’s performance and their past days of performance throughout the tournament. “We had a pretty good week. Despite the rain and the weather, we still managed to play our game” “I have seen a lot of young girls and they are putting in the effort and trying their best to get into the senior team, which is exciting.
I hope they leant new skills during this tournament and be better in playing cricket, as this is a great opportunity.” “This is my first time captaining a team and winning a trophy, which is a bonus for me and for the team. Our players did well, especially our batters and bowlers. I’m really proud of the team and our win,” she added. Thomas thanked Boroko Motors, the title sponsor of the tournament through the Isuzu brand, for their continued support. “I just want to thank Boroko Motors for their effort and trust in sponsoring the tournament. Also, a big thank you to Cricket PNG and the players coming from other regions.
And especially the groundsmen who put extra effort into getting the pitch ready for us to play on turf.” The Isuzu Women’s T20 Smash- final, showcased the growing competitiveness of the women’s cricket game in PNG. Batting first, the Black Bass posted 105/4 from 20 overs, thanks to a composed 43 from Hollan Doriga and a late 27-run surge by Pauke Siaka. In reply, the Mudmen fell just short, finishing on 98/8 after a spirited fight led by Isabel Toua. Player of the Match, Black Bass- Pauke Siaka, turned the game in the final over by defending ten runs, taking a crucial wicket on the first ball and conceding just two runs.
This gave victory to the Black Bass, having previously come close in past games. The Black Bass captain also acknowledged the spirited competition throughout the week. “I would like to thank the three competing teams; the Mudmen, Mariners and the Cassowaries team. Congratulations to my team on winning. She added, “And thank you to our player-coach Pauke Siaka for her guidance.” The Isuzu T20 Smash continues to serve as an important platform for rising cricket talent across PNG, with 18 of the 56 players coming from outside Port Moresby.
Captain Thomas reinforced the tournament's value in player development saying, “The Isuzu T20 Smash is a good opportunity for us to put our skills to practice. To have the feeling of participating and performing is a good experience in itself. I hope these young women take the skills they’ve learnt during the competition to help them become better in future tournaments.” With this victory, the Black Bass join the Cassowaries (2023) and Mudmen (2024) as recent champions.
Match Day Operations Manager of the Isuzu T20 Smash, Mr Lakani Oala, also shared his reflections on the tournament’s significance, thanking Boroko Motors, through their Isuzu brand, for making it possible for Cricket PNG to run this tournament once again. “The Isuzu T20 Smash been going for the last four to five years and it's our Cricket PNG flagship competition,” said Oala. “From this competition, we identify players for the Barramundis and Lewas, so its importance is very high.
The women's final on Saturday May 4th between the Black Bass and Mudmen is a great showcase. But even the third-place playoff between the Mariners and Cassowaries is just as important, because performances here can open doors for national selection.” Oala also called on the cricket public to support the upcoming Isuzu Men’s T20 Smash beginning on Friday May 9th at Amini Park in Port Moresby. “The men’s competition will start on Friday and run over the next two weeks. That will be our selection base for the next Barramundis tours. I’m appealing to all fans to come down and support these great talents.”
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For more information, please contact:
Cricket PNG | Email: info@cricketpng.org | Website: www.cricketpng.org.pg
About Cricket
PNG Cricket PNG (CPNG) is the National Sports Federation responsible for the governance, promotion and development of cricket in Papua New Guinea (PNG). CPNG has been an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 1973 and is supported by the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) regional office, and more recently the PNG Olympic Committee. CPNG currently has about 70 staff in ten (10) regions across PNG with a majority involved in driving entry-level participation through the Schools Kriket Programme and the School Kriket Programme (Malolo Hard-Ball Competition). In 2024, the School Kriket Programme reached over 129,000 students across PNG. Domestically, the Isuzu T20 Smash is our pinnacle event, supported by men’s and women’s Nationals at U19 and Senior levels. At the high-performance level internationally, our Barramundis (national men) are ranked 20th in T20 and had ODI status until early 2023, our Lewas (national women) are ranked 12th in T20 and currently have ODI status, our Garamuts (U19 boys) and Siales (U19 girls) have historically been the best performed of the ICC EAP U19 member teams.
About Boroko Motors:
Boroko Motors is a leading automotive dealership in Papua New Guinea, providing high-quality vehicles, parts, and services to individuals and businesses since 1965. Representing globally trusted brands including Isuzu, Boroko Motors offers a diverse range of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment to meet the needs of Papua New Guinea’s growing economy. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, the company also provides expert after-sales services, genuine spare parts, and tailored financing solutions to ensure a seamless vehicle ownership experience. Boroko Motors operates a nationwide network of branches and service centers, making reliable automotive solutions accessible across the country. Driven by innovation and excellence, Boroko Motors continues to set the standard in the automotive industry, supporting Papua New Guinea’s transportation and infrastructure development.
