Host West Indies stutter to five-wicket win over PNG

Co-hosts West Indies stumbled and stuttered their way to the finish line to kick-start their home T20 World Cup campaign with a five-wicket win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) in a Group C match at Providence on Sunday.

The hosts found themselves in a spot of bother in the run chase after PNG finished with a below par 136/8. From 61/1 at one stage, West Indies was reduced to 97/5 and at that point, they still needed 40 from the final 4 overs. However, PNG couldn’t pull off the upset as Roston Chase (42* off 27 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) managed to get the job done alongside Andre Russell (15*).

Brandon King (34 off 29 balls, 7 fours) and Nicholas Pooran (27) put on 53 for the second wicket after West Indies had lost Johnson Charles for a golden duck.

Sese Bau scored his maiden fifty in a T20 World Cup with 50 off 43 balls (6 fours, 1 six) for PNG after they were put into bat first.

Scores: PNG 136-8 (20) (Assad Vala 21, Sese Bau 50, Kiplin Doriga 27, Andre Russell 2/19, Alzarri Joseph 2/34)

West Indies 137-5 (19) (Brandon King 34, Nicholas Pooran 27, Roston Chase 42*, Assad Vala 2/28)