Papua New Guinea level ODI cricket series against Hong Kong with 14-run victory
Opening bowler Chad Soper takes six wickets as the teams head for the decider at Mission Road on Tuesday
Papua New Guinea opening bowler Chad Soper claimed six wickets as he put the brakes on Hong Kong’s chase to lead his team to a 14-run victory in the second one-day cricket international on Sunday at Mission Road.
The 24-year-old Soper claimed six for 41 in his 10 overs as Hong Kong were dismissed for 187 in the second-last over while chasing PNG’s score of 201 all out in 45.5 overs.
PNG’s victory squared the three-match series at 1-1 after losing the first match on Friday by 106 runs. The final match and decider is on Tuesday.
Hong Kong’s late collapse was a major disappointment to coach Simon Cook, who lamented his side’s missed chance at taking the series.
Watch: Hong Kong vs Papua New Guinea, second ODI, November 6, 2016
“We made the same mistakes as in the first time but this time it cost us,” Cook said. “We didn’t rotate the strike with the bat, which we spoke a lot about, and in the end we put ourselves under pressure because of it.