Port Moresby: Tournament favourites Papua New Guinea flexed their muscles on day one of the East-Asia Pacific Regional Final by beating Vanuatu, while Japan accounted for a Philippines challenge earlier at Amini Park.
Nineteen-year-old John Kariko stole the show on his T20I debut, claiming 3/6 off four overs to send the Amini Park crowd home happy on a warm Saturday.
The left-arm orthodox spinner claimed Nalin Nipiko with a fuller delivery to beat the outside edge, before claiming fellow Vanuatu opener Junior Kaltapau with the help of a sharp Tony Ura catch at cover, the ICC reported.
Kariko would return to dismiss Apolinaire Stephen (7) for his third, though his early work set up Papua New Guinea’s assault with the ball, largely through fellow spinner CJ Amini.
The leg-spinner found his lengths early in his spell, removing the well-credentialed Andrew Mansale (3) and Vanuatu captain Patrick Matautaava (0) in successive overs to finish with 2/10 from his four-over allotment. At the other end, quick Norman Vanua steamed in despite the prevailing breeze against him from the Boroko End and taking 2/13 (4), stranding Vanuatu at 71/8 from their 20 overs.
Outside of the early departure for Tony Ura (4), the hosts were emphatic in the chase, with opener Kiplin Doriga (32* off 18 balls) joined by skipper Assad Vala (34* off 17) to wrap up a Net Run Rate-boosting win.
Earlier at Amini Park Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming led from the front in a 53-run win over the Philippines.
Despite a tight Philippines Powerplay with the ball and in the field, leading to captain Daniel Smith’s run out of Alex Shirai-Patmore, Japan consolidated through Kadowaki-Fleming (60 off 37 balls) and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake (41 from 44).
The pair profited from a life each in the field in their partnership of 75, though it was the hitting of all-rounder Ibrahim Takahashi that put Japan into the ascendancy.
Takahashi hit three sixes to finish with 31 from 13 deliveries, with the work of Reo Sakurano-Thomas (14 from 9) not to be discounted in the total of 166.
Finding lateral movement in the air Sakurano-Thomas then claimed the key wicket of Philippines skipper Smith (12), setting up Japan’s attack with the ball. Piyush Kumbhare was miserly with his left-arm orthodox at the other end, going for just eight runs in three overs across the Powerplay, while leg-spinner Sabaorish Ravichandran found his rhythm early, going for just 13 from his four overs.
The required rate proved out of reach for the Philippines despite the best efforts of Jordan Alegre
(33) and Josef Doctora (28), and Kumbhare returned to pick up two deserved wickets to finish with 2/11 (4).
Day two action on Sunday sees Japan face Vanuatu in the morning match, with PNG taking on the Philippines in the afternoon fixture.
