PNG Barramundis thrash Namibia by 199 runs

PAPUA New Guinea took just over an hour on the final day to wrap up the Namibian innings to claim a historic outright victory at Amini Park by 199 runs.

Starting the day at 120/8, Namibia lost Bernard Scholtz (14) and Colin Peake (8) very early, thanks to the handy leg-spin bowling from Lega Siaka to give the Hebou PNG Barramundis a 199-run win.
Siaka finished with impressive bowling figure of 4-38 while Wian Van Vuuren was unbeaten on 28 runs for Namibia.
Barramundis captain Assad Vala, pictured, said it was a challenging Intercontinental Cup match for his side over the first three days but he was pleased they had put on a competitive total in their first innings to set up the victory.

“The first day was very hard for us, and it was great that we managed to score 311 to give something for our bowlers to bowl at,” Vala said.
“It was an unbelievable effort by our bowlers to bowl out a quality batting line up in Namibia for only 146 runs.

“Norman (Vanua) led from the front and bowled very well and Lega (Siaka) was more than handy cleaning up with his leg spinners.”
Commenting on his unbeaten 144 runs in the first innings, the 29-year-old, who captained his country for the first time in an International Cricket Council-sanctioned match, said he was glad to have top scored but added it was a team performance that got the home side the win.
“I was very happy to get a hundred.
“I really didn’t think much of getting a hundred, but I was looking at scoring as many runs for the team. In the end, we’re all very happy with our performance,” Vala said.
With this outright victory, PNG move into fourth position on 40 points after four rounds of the I-Cup, with only matches against the United Arab Emirates, Scotland and Hong Kong remaining.
Vala remains the second leading runs scorer in the four-day format with 559 runs after scoring a total of 150 runs in this match.
Only former England batsman and current Ireland star Ed Joyce (592 runs) has more runs in the I-Cup.

Cricket PNG chief executive officer Greg Campbell said the Barramundis had mainatined a high standard and were reaping the benefits of their preparation in the months leading up to the series against Namibia.
Campbell said he expected Namibia to bounce back in the one-day fixtures and despite the good feeling in the Barramundis camp, there was still work to do.
“We’re quietly confident and the boys are looking forward to the one-dayers.
“Even though they’re celebrating the I-Cup win over Namibia they know there’s still a job at hand,” Campbell said.
The Barramundis now turn their attention to their two one-day matches on Friday and Sunday.
The matches are part of their ICC World Cricket League Championships (WCLC) Round 4 limikted overs fixtures.

The Barramundis are currently in fourth position, on eight points while Namibia sit in seventh spot on two points.
Match Summary:
1st Innings – PNG Barramundis 311 (Assad Vala 144 not out, John Boge Reva 45, Tony Ura 28, Bernard Scholtz 5-105, Stephan Baard 2-23) Namibia 146 (Sarel Burger 52 not out, JJ Smit 23, Lega Siaka 3-16, Norman Vanua 3-39, Mahuru Dai 2-29); 2nd Innings – PNG 189 (Vani Vagi Morea 61, Chad Soper 35 not out, John Boge Reva 20, Bernard Scholtz 6-650) Namibia 155 (JP Koltze 36, Lega Siaka 4-38, Norman Vanua 3-23). PNG won by 199 runs.