PNG's Batting Woes Cost Them Against Uganda in T20 World Cup

Papua New Guinea's dismal batting performance against Uganda in the T20 World Cup 2024 has left captain Assad Vala lamenting the team's inability to adjust to the Providence Stadium pitch. PNG's paltry total of 77, their lowest in T20Is, proved insufficient as Uganda secured a comfortable victory.

Vala expressed disappointment with the team's soft dismissals, which he attributed to a lack of adaptability. "We didn't do as we planned," he said. "We had a lot of soft dismissals. I think anything just over 100 was a good score on that wicket."

Despite the batting woes, Vala praised the bowlers for their early efforts, which reduced Uganda to 6 for 3. However, Riazat Ali Shah and Juma Miyagi's 35-run partnership stabilized the Uganda innings, with Riazat benefiting from a dropped catch by Charles Amini.

Vala acknowledged the missed opportunities and the need for improvement in the upcoming matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand. "We created the opportunities at the same time. When we need to take those chances, I don't know what to say anymore," he said.

The PNG captain emphasized the importance of maintaining energy and determination against stronger opponents. "We need to be up for that," he said. "We don't get the opportunity to play against those teams so when the opportunity is in front of us, we need to make the best of it."

Vala's words reflect the team's need to regroup and find their rhythm in the remaining matches. With the challenges ahead, PNG will need to address their batting deficiencies and capitalize on their bowling strengths to salvage their campaign.

Tags: #T20WorldCup2024, #PapuaNewGuinea, #Uganda, #AssadVala, #BattingCollapse