Amini-Doriga stand, Ravu four-for give PNG comprehensive win

[Torrent Disney]

Tony Ura and Assad Vala started the good work with the bat, Charles Amini and Kiplin Doriga built on it, and then the bowlers, led by Damien Ravu, put the seal on a strong Papua New Guinea performance as they beat Singapore by 43 runs in Dubai. The result helped PNG get to eight points from five games, placing them top of the Group A table for the moment, while Singapore, after starting their campaign with a win over Scotland, have just four points from five games.

Singapore captain Amjad Mahboob asked PNG to bat upon winning the toss, and the experienced PNG opening duo of Ura and captain Vala proceeded to add 61 runs in quick time before Vala was dismissed off the last ball of the Powerplay for an 18-ball 24. Ura fell 20 runs later for a 21-ball 30 in the ninth over, and when Lega Siaka was dismissed next ball for 13, PNG did look a bit shaky at 81 for 3, which appeared worse when Sese Bau fell for 11 to leave the scoreboard reading 101 for 4.

But that brought Amini and Doriga together, and they both hit unbeaten 40s as Singapore, who had lost the services of offspinner Selladore Vijayakumar before the game after he was suspended for a suspect bowling action, wilted.

Amini ended on 41 not out off 28 balls, with two fours and a six, while Doriga's 43 not out came off 27 balls, with two fours and two sixes. The two added an unbroken 79 runs for the fifth wicket.

Singapore's reply started on a poor note as Surendran Chandramohan was dismissed for a diamond duck, run out without facing a ball. If that was bad, it got worse when Ravu sent back Rohan Rangarajan and Rezza Gaznavi off consecutive balls in the sixth over to leave Singapore on 37 for 3.

There was a bit of a fightback, led by Tim David, who hit a 26-ball 44, but though four others - Aritra Dutta, Navin Param, Vinoth Baskaran and Avi Dixit - got into double figures, there wasn't the one other big knock that could have helped David pull off an unlikely win, Ravu's 4 for 18 making it simpler for PNG.

Singapore's last group-stage match will be against Namibia tomorrow, while PNG's final fixture is against Kenya the day after.