West Indies overcome PNG scare with Chase’s match-winning performance

Unassuming all-rounder Roston Chase proved his worth as he helped the West Indies avoid upsets by minnows Papua New Guinea and guided them to a five-wicket win in their Group C opener of the Twenty20 World Cup in Guyana on Sunday .

Chasing a modest 137 on a slow track at the Guyana National Stadium, the West Indies slumped to 97 for five at the end of the 16th over, leaving the result hanging in the balance with 40 runs still needed from the remaining 24 deliveries.

However, the level-headed Chase came to his rescue with a polished, unbeaten 42 off 27 balls, earning him Man-of-the-Match honors as West Indies crossed the line with an over to make a winning start in their match. bid on a third title. Coming in at number four, the 32-year-old took on the pressure of watching the wickets tumble around him before dominating the back end with four fours and two sixes.

He put on 22 for the fourth wicket with captain Rovman Powell (15) before beating big hit Andre Russell (15 not out) in an all-important, uninterrupted 40-run sixth wicket stand.

Very happy

“I am very satisfied. Of course, it’s always good to start the tournament with a win. I had to take it home for the team, and I did,” Chase said afterward. “I knew obviously from our first innings bowling that it was always difficult for batsmen coming in to start, so I just gave myself the best chance possible, (gave) myself some time, and (supported) my skills that when I come in, I’d be able to get the ball away.”

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He was supported by in-form opener Brandon King, who made 34 off 29 balls, and left-hander Nicholas Pooran, who hit a run-a-ball 27.

Russell (2-19) and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph (2-34) had earlier claimed two wickets each to help restrict Papua New Guinea to 136 for eight of their 20 overs. The south-west Pacific nation was sent in carried by Sese Bau’s top score of 50 from 43 balls, while wicketkeeper Kiplin Doriga came in with an unbeaten 27 from 18 balls and captain Assad Vala, 21 from 22 deliveries.

West Indies dictated the early stages of the match as they reduced Papua New Guinea to seven for two in the third over, fast bowler Romario Shepherd putting Tony Ura (2) behind in the second over and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein went through it. Lega Siaka’s (1) defense with a sharp arm ball.

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Get back early

Vala hit two fours and a six to create a 27-run third-wicket tie with Bau, but he was one of two wickets to fall, leaving Papua New Guinea at 50 for four in the ninth over. Bau then took responsibility for the innings, hitting six fours and a six while putting on 44 for the fifth wicket with Charles Amini (12), to revive his side’s fortunes. Doriga provided the late flourish, hitting three fours in his knock to lift Papua New Guinea to the final total.

West Indies were then set back early when Johnson Charles played around a full toss from seamer Alei Nao and was lbw for a first ball ‘duck’ in the second over with eight runs on the board. The home side could have been in further trouble when Pooran was hit straight in front three balls later before scoring, but the visitors opted against the review after the appeal was rejected. Instead, Pooran, whose first 15 deliveries yielded just five runs, counter-attacked with a four and two sixes, attempting to kick-start the innings in a 53-run, second-wicket stand with King tallying seven fours.

But he ran on for too long at the start of the ninth over from economical 20-year-old left-arm spinner John Kariko, and when off-spinner Vala King skimmed to mid-wicket in the next over, West Indies stuttered. at 63 for three.

Powell also never settled down, eventually making a catch behind off-sealer Chad Soper to turn the game on its head. However, Chase never blinked and timed his late charge to perfection as he plundered 18 runs from the 18th over which were blasted by left-arm Kabua Morea, before nailing a couple of boundaries off the penultimate to remove any doubt about the result to take.