Cricket

In the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024, two-time champions West Indies restricted Papua New Guinea to a modest 136 for eight in Georgetown on June 2. Despite the gulf in experience and skill, PNG's Sese Bau put up a spirited fight with a fine half-century.PNG, playing in their second T20 World Cup, were reeling at 50 for four before Bau (50 off 43 balls) shared a 44-run stand with Charles Amini (12) to salvage their innings. Expecting the pitch to turn, the West Indies opted for three spinners and put PNG in to bat after winning the toss.The spinners made an early impact, with Akeal Hosein removing Tony Ura in the first over. Romario Shepherd then dismissed Lega Siaka, while Alzarri Joseph sent back PNG skipper Assad Vala (21 off 22 balls). Vala had shown some promise with a couple of crisp hits before being caught by Roston Chase at backward point.Bau then took charge, smashing left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie for a six and a couple of fours to give PNG's innings some momentum. After his departure, the associate nation did well to reach close to the 140-run mark.In reply, the West Indies chased down the target with ease, reaching 137 for two in 17.2 overs. Brandon King (52 off 35 balls) and Kyle Mayers (43 off 30 balls) led the charge with fluent half-centuries.

The T20 World Cup 2022 kicked off in the Caribbean with a disappointing start as the West Indies vs Papua New Guinea match in Guyana on Sunday witnessed empty stands and a lack of buzz. The Providence Stadium was only partially filled, with most of the stands remaining empty and isolated.The 9th edition of the ICC's cricketing extravaganza is being jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies. The USA vs Canada game on Saturday marked the tournament's commencement. However, the low turnout in the first T20 World Cup game in the Caribbean raised concerns and drew criticism on social media.West Indies captain Rovman Powell opted to bowl first against PNG in the opening Group C match. Despite a green-tinged pitch, the two-time former champions included three spinners - Roston Chase, Akeil Hosein, and Gudakesh Motie - in their final 11.PNG, who stunned Zimbabwe to qualify for their second T20 World Cup appearance, relied on their experienced players - captain Assad Vala, Tony Ura, and Lega Siaka - to post a challenging total. Their only previous meeting in an official international fixture was at the 2018 qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe for the 2019 50-over-side World Cup, where West Indies emerged victorious.The lack of crowd support and atmosphere in the opening match raised questions about the tournament's appeal in the Caribbean. The ICC and local organizers will hope for improved attendance and enthusiasm in subsequent matches to create a more vibrant and engaging atmosphere for the global cricketing event.

West Indies Aim for Redemption in T20 World Cup Opener Against Papua New GuineaWest Indies will kick off their Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup 2024 with a match against Papua New Guinea in Providence, Guyana. The hosts will be eager to make a strong start after disappointing performances in the last two editions of the tournament.West Indies, who won the trophy in 2012 and 2016, have struggled in recent years. They managed only one win in five matches in 2021 and failed to reach the Super 12s in 2022. However, they come into this tournament in good form, having swept South Africa 3-0 at home and beating Australia in their only warm-up game.Key players for West Indies include Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, and Shimron Hetmyer. Russell boasts a strike rate of 207.89 in T20s this year, while Pooran has hit the most sixes in T20 cricket in 2024.Papua New Guinea, making their second appearance at the World Cup, will be looking to upset some calculations. They have a pace-dominated side with only Charles Amini as a frontline spinner. Veteran batters Assad Vala, Tony Ura, Lega Siaka, and Sese Bau will be crucial for PNG.The match will be played at Providence, where teams have been happier to bat second. However, there are chances of showers and even a thunderstorm early in the day, which could impact the game.West Indies will be hoping to start their campaign with a win and build momentum for the rest of the tournament. They will be aware of the threat posed by PNG, who have the experience and ability to cause an upset.

Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach who guided the team to the 2016 T20 World Cup title, has joined Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a 'specialist coach' ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament.Simmons' appointment comes after his second stint as West Indies coach ended following their group-stage elimination at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Since then, he has worked extensively in franchise cricket, coaching Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders, and Karachi Kings.In his new role, Simmons will support head coach Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper. Cricket PNG stated that Simmons was recruited due to his extensive experience of local conditions."My role here is as a consultant coach and [will be about] how I put across my experience, not just playing in World Cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at," Simmons said."As a player internationally, for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years, it's been a long time in the game. It's always brilliant to come home, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies. You know how beautiful it is here. I'm looking forward to getting home, which is Trinidad."PNG arrived in St Kitts last week after a four-day journey from Port Moresby. They will train and play various unofficial warm-up matches before facing Oman and Namibia in official warm-up fixtures in Trinidad and Tobago next week.They have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup itself. They will face co-hosts West Indies in their opening match in Guyana on June 2, then play Uganda four days later at the same venue. They will then travel back to Trinidad to face Afghanistan on June 14 and New Zealand on June 17.Simmons praised the energy and enthusiasm of the PNG team. "Their energy is unbelievable: their warm-up alone yesterday got me tired. The guys look like they have settled in really well… I've known the head coach for a long time and he's always energetic. There is always a lot of energy, but the players seem to be pushing him where that is not so, and I like that atmosphere in the team."Batter Assad Vala will lead PNG, who will be playing their second T20 World Cup, after a winless campaign in 2021.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has named Assad Vala as their captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Vala, who also led the team in 2021, will be assisted by allrounder Charles Amini as vice-captain.Ten of the 15 players selected for the 2024 event were part of the squad in 2021. Jack Gardner, who was a reserve three years ago, has now been included in the main squad.PNG qualified for this year's T20 World Cup by topping the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in 2023, where they won all six of their matches. They enter the tournament on the back of a 2-0 series win against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, which came immediately after they won a T20I tri-series also featuring Nepal and Hong Kong.PNG will start their World Cup campaign against co-hosts West Indies in Guyana on June 2. They are part of Group C, which also includes Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Uganda.Vala expressed optimism about the team's chances in the tournament. "The energy has been great within the team," he said. "For some of the boys who went to the last T20 World Cup, it's a different feeling now with a lot of the training, because the last time was during Covid and the preparation wasn't as good as what we're going through now. I am looking forward to this event because I know we are going to do well."