HISTORIC VICTORY FOR PNG LEWAS DEFEATING AUSTRALIA INDIGENOUS TEAM - DAY 4, IN THE PACIFICAUS SPORTS CRICKET INVERTATIONAL
Port Moresby, PNG – The Papua New Guinea Lewas have etched their names into cricketing history today, securing their first-ever victory against the formidable Australia Indigenous Women’s team in a competitive encounter at Amini Park during the Inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational – Day 4, Match 7.
In a closely contested match, the PNG Women’s team chased down a target of 112 with just one ball to spare, finishing at 113/8 in 19.5 overs to win by 2 wickets.
Australia Indigenous Women, batting first, were restricted to 111 for 7 in their 20 overs. A disciplined bowling effort by the Lewas kept the visiting side in check. Holland Doriga was the standout with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs, including key dismissals at the back end of the innings. Henao Jean Thomas also made a strong impact early, picking up 2 for 16 in her 4 overs, including the prized wicket of Australia Indigenous Anika Learoyd caught and bowled for 11.
Despite a valiant 49 from Callee Black off 40 deliveries (including 3 fours and 1 six), the Australians struggled to build score. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with contributions from PNG’s Mairi Tom and Isabel Toua keeping the pressure on the batting side.
Chasing 112, the PNG Lewas showed strong performance. Though wickets tumbled throughout the innings, the home side held their nerve. Requiring just two runs off the final two deliveries, the Lewas sealed the match with one ball remaining bringing the win home with loud celebration scenes among teammates and supporters alike.
PNG’s all-rounder, Pauke Siaka was named player of the match with her experience shown through as she rotated the strike expertly and found boundary when it mattered the most. Siaka a right-handed batter and Dika Lohia batted off with runs adding scores to the teams win.
PNG Lewas has won three matches, one each defeating, Vanuatu, Samoa in previous match days and today defeating Australia Indigenous in the tournament placing them first on the leader, leading by Net Run Rate 0.8723 ( League Points Table accessible on link: https://cricclubs.com/cpng/viewPointsTable.do?clubld=34550 )
Cricket PNG congratulates the Lewas on their historic win and extends its appreciation to the Australia Indigenous Women’s team for their competitive spirit and sportsmanship.
For more information and updates on the PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational, live tournament feeds and scorecards are accessable on Cricket PNG website: www.cricketpng.org.pg and updates on the Cricket PNG Facebook page.
END ...//
For media further details, please contact:
Roselyn Erehe
(675) 76151402
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 highperformance 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.
