Not your normal headline: PNG destroys USA
28 January 2011
THE PNG CRICKET team has rolled the United States of America by seven wickets with 44 overs to spare in one of the most one-sided games at the Hong Kong Cricket Club.
PNG won the toss and had their opponents on the mat immediately, with Hitolo Areni sending Lennox Cush back for a duck and soon reducing the US to 3 for 25.
With six of the remaining eight batsmen failing to score, the US crumbled to be bowled out for 44 in the 21st over of the 50 over game.
Seamer and captain Rarva Dikana finished with the dream figures of 4 for 1 from just 4.2 overs.
PNG were in a rush to end the game, and Christopher Kent hit two sixes to seal PNG's third win in three games.
"We didn't expect to bowl the USA out so cheaply this morning and all credit has to go to our bowlers and the way they performed today," Rarva Dikana said.
"I think they didn't know how to read our bowlers and our fielding was particularly strong.
“We can't rest on our laurels though, we've got to focus on our game and be ready for the next challenge."
In other results, Oman authored a major recovery to overhaul the target of 241 set by Italy, and Hong Kong's bowlers sparked a dramatic collapse to set up a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Denmark.
I don't know about Kainantu Golf Club, but can relate an anecdote about Kokopo Golf Club. I was enjoying a game there a few years ago.
It must be one of the most beautiful courses in the world - the smoking and shuddering volcanoes in the distance, a marvellous view overlooking the beach and Simpson Harbour, the course surrounded by coconut palms, and the first tee is just next to the remaining steps of Queen Emma's house (sadly lost since WW2).
I was about to take a shot when I heard a cry from the top of a coconut tree, "Would you like some coconut kula mista wite man?"
A young man had climbed to the top of a tree with no ropes or any other safety device (must have been 30+ metres high) and was throwing down the coconuts to his friends on the ground.
He then asked me to take a picture of him, and jumped down in about three seconds to shake my hand. He whacked the top off a coconut with his bush-knife and I enjoyed the drink very much.
Bloody amazing!
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 29 January 2011 at 09:25 AM
I lived in PNG from 1985-2000 and worked in the highlands with the Summer Institute of Linguistics.
I often played at the Kainantu Golf Club and I'm in the midst of writing the history of the club.
I'd love to hear from people who played at the club, have photos of the course, clubhouse and/or players.
I am especially interested in the history of how the Kainantu course was built and how the club was started.
I'd love to also get in touch with Muriel Laner and or her friend Hollie Smith Kershaw who wrote the only book ('Kainantu, Gateway to the Highlands') I know of about the history of Kainantu.
I know Muriel from my time in PNG and have Hollie's book, but she doesn't mention the golf course at all and I don't have their contact information.
My email address is [email protected]
Thanks for any help you might be able to give me. (Note spelling of my last name which is also the way I spell my name in the email address.)
Posted by: Charles Micheals | 29 January 2011 at 08:54 AM