Sport: PNG still winless at Under 19 World Cup

12:44 pm on 23 January 2018

Papua New Guinea remain winless at the Under 19 Cricket World Cup after an 80 run defeat by Canada on Monday.

Akash Gill led the way with 120 from 115 balls as the Canadians amassed a challenging 265 for 8 batting first at Lincoln Green.

James Tau was the pick of the Garamuts bowlers with figures of 2 for 37 from nine overs.

James Tau picked up two wickets.

James Tau picked up two wickets. Photo: Supplied

In reply, keeper batsmen Simon Atai top scored with a well compiled 81 but PNG lost wickets at regular intervals to be all out for 185 in the 45th over.

PNG Coach Greg Campbell says they actually bowled well but weren't good enough in the field.

"The boys identified themselves we've leaked a few runs in the field and that's because they're young boys and they've got to identify that, we let 50-60 runs leak in the field and we could have been chasing 200 not 270," he said.

"It was a magnificent performance (from Simon Atai): wicketkeeper-batsman, he has probably 30 minutes between changeover and he didn't have any lunch and out he goes and scores a magnificent 81. It was pretty unlucky the run-rate got up above ten (per over) for us when we lost a few wickets."

Simon Atai top scored for the Garamuts.

Simon Atai top scored for the Garamuts. Photo: Supplied

PNG were previously outclassed by Zimbabwe, India and Australia in pool play but Greg Campbell believed progress is being made with each game.

"Reflecting on this when we go home it's a very young team and we played Australia and we played India that probably bowled 145-150km/h and the boys probably have never faced that, or most associate (countries) would never have faced that," he said.

"...We were probably a bit unlucky with the pool we drew - not saying any (other) game would have been much easier but...it did dent out batsmen's confidence a bit and they came back to what they're used to [against Canada] and they sort of got back to a bit of form so we're looking forward to our batsmen to contribute a bit more in the next couple of games."

PNG will face the loser of today's West Indies v Ireland match in the plate playoff semis and can finish as high as 13th in the 16-team tournament.

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