PNG Barramundis run over Kenya in ODI series

AN unbeaten century (102) by Hebou PNG Barramundis opener Vani Vagi Morea laid the foundation for a deserved 21-run win over Kenya (228)  in the second match of their World Cricket League series at Amini Park.
Morea’s ton was the first by a PNG batsman in an ICC-sanctioned match on home soil.
The supporting act of John Boge Reva, whose 43 runs off 33 balls and four-wicket haul, did the job for PNG.  
The Barramundis won the toss, with captain Jack Vare electing to bat.
At the end of their allotted 50 overs, PNG scored 249 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Morea, normally a quick-scoring batsman, had to rein in his instincts, batting out the innings as the PNG batsmen fell around him.
 The PNG top order suffered the loss of their two best batsmen with Lega Siaka being dismissed for a duck and Assad Vala for 13.
Both batsmen were dismissed by Nehemiah Odhiambo, leaving PNG 27/2.
Morea kept his composure as he went about building the PNG innings.
Sese Bau (66) helped Morea put on a 124-run partnership from the 18th to the 29th over.
It could have all come undone for Morea when he was caught half way down the pitch in a misjudged run.
Thankfully, some shoddy Kenyan fielding spared Morea. Bau’s partnership with Morea proved vital as PNG recovered from the shaky start.
Bau would eventually be trapped lbw, bowled by veteran Collins Obuya with PNG 151/3.
The Barras next three wickets would fall for 10 runs with Mahuru Dai (8), Charles J Amini (0) and Vare (2) going cheaply.
All-rounder Reva proved the perfect foil to Morea’s measured approach hammering 43 runs off 33 deliveries to get the Barras to 249/6.
Reva’s contribution with both bat and ball epitomised the spirit of the Barramundis team.
A delighted Barramundis coach Dipak Patel told The National after the match: “The euphoria of playing at home and performing as well as the guys have speaks highly of what they are capable of doing.
“The most impressive thing was that in both games the players performed to win.
“Our fielding today was phenomenal and it proved to be the difference between the two teams, we probably would have saved 20 to 30 runs in the field with the run outs and catches that we took,” Patel said. The National/ PNG Today