The 2024 T20 World Cup’s second match saw the West Indies pitted against Papua New Guinea at the expansive Providence Stadium in Guyana.
This daylight match unfolded in a venue renowned for its vast dimensions, with measurements of 83 meters from the long-off region, 63 meters behind the stumps, and 73 and 79 meters from the point and long-leg areas, respectively.
The sheer size of the stadium presented significant challenges for both the batters and the fielders. Despite assumptions about the relative experience of the teams, Papua New Guinea, often considered the newcomers in cricket, delivered a solid and unexpected performance, giving the West Indies a fiercely competitive match.
This unexpected turn of events once again underscored the unpredictable and thrilling nature of T20 cricket.
Against a weak enemy
West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first, allowing the PNG to take the batting crease. The West Indies bowlers, led by Andre Russell and Alzaarri Joseph, demonstrated their prowess by swiftly dismantling the inexperienced PNG batting lineup.
Russell’s fiery pace and Joseph’s accurate line and length proved too much for the PNG batters. They were restricted to 136 runs and lost 8 wickets.
Despite the challenging situation, Sese Bau emerged as the top performer for the PNG, showcasing remarkable resilience and skill to score 50 runs, including six boundaries and one maximum, thereby achieving a commendable half-century amidst the intense competition.
Two wickets each
Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph were the key bowlers for the West Indies, each taking two wickets. Additionally, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, and Gudakesh Motie each took one wicket.
Windies thought to win easily
Initially expected to secure an easy victory, the Windies openers were met with unforeseen hurdles when they confronted the bowlers from Papua New Guinea .
This twist of events saw the Windies lose their first wicket with a mere 8 runs on the board, as their opener, Johnson Charles, succumbed to an LBW decision off Nao’s delivery.
Unfortunate New Guinean
After that, the West Indies’ formidable batter, Nicholas Pooran, stepped up to bat. The Papua New Guinea fervently appealed for Pooran’s dismissal for LBW in the same over, but the umpire remained unmoved.
Surprisingly, the PNG players opted not to review the decision. Subsequently, television replays conclusively demonstrated that Pooran was indeed out.
This turn of events proved a miserable situation for the PNG, as their inexperience led them to miss a crucial opportunity. Evidently, had they successfully taken that wicket, the match could have unfolded as a much closer contest.
‘It was a tough call, and we thought it was worth a review, but we respect the umpire’s decision,’ said the PNG captain, reflecting on the incident after the match.
They competed again
The players from Papua New Guinea showcased incredible resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite the odds, they fought valiantly until the very end, almost turning the tide of the match in their favour.
Ultimately, the West Indies clinched the victory in the 19th over, but not without losing five wickets. Roston Chase’s impressive performance, scoring 42 runs, played a pivotal role for the West Indies.
This match was a stark reminder to all teams that no opponent should be underestimated in the tournament.
It underscored the importance of approaching every game with utmost seriousness and determination, as there are no apparent differences between strong and weak teams. Every single match holds significant value and should not be taken lightly.
