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.
“It was a tough pitch and credit to PNG for how they bowled but I’m very disappointed we weren’t able to see it through.”
Hong Kong looked set for victory at 176 for six but then lost their last four wickets for 11 runs with Soper cleaning up the tail. Earlier, Soper had removed opener Kinchit Shah and captain Babar Hayat for ducks, while also accounting for the returning Jamie Atkinson, who scored 23.
Hong Kong’s middle order staged a recovery through Nizakat Khan (33), Anshuman Rath (21), Shahid Wasif (45) and Ehsan Khan (27) before Soper returned to trigger the home side’s collapse.
Earlier, spinner Nadeem Ahmed starred for Hong Kong by taking four for 50 from his 10 overs including the first three scalps.
PNG skipper Assad Vala made 70, which held the innings together in the middle overs on a wicket that turned sharply.
Rath backed up his impressive performance with the ball in the first game, taking three for 28 from his 10 overs.
Hong Kong skipper Hayat ended up taking the field after suffering a groin injury on Friday on his way to making 77.
