Photo Credit: Cricket PNG
During the recent T20 International series between Australia and India, Team India had their best ever season – winning nine out of their 11 games to finish with a 90 percent win-loss record for the 2020 international season.
That is an enviable record, but did you know our PNG Barramundis registered the highest T20 International win-loss record in 2019? At 87.50 per cent, the Barramundis sit comfortably amongst Pakistan (twice), India and Afghanistan with the top five highest win percentages in T20Is for a calendar year.
Between 1 January – 31 December 2019, the Barramundis played in 16 completed matches, winning 14 as they blazed their way to their first appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup beating the likes of Vanuatu. Bermuda, Scotland and the Netherlands along the way.
The Barramundis incredible run started with the ICC East Asia Pacific (EAP) T20 World Cup Regional Qualifiers against the Philippines and Vanuatu played at Amini Park, Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea registered three comfortable wins by 133 runs, 8 wickets, and 10 wickets to comfortably qualify for the World Cup Qualifiers later in the year!
The regional qualifiers were followed by the Pacific Games, against Samoa, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia* in Apia, Samoa. Another series brought another sweep for the Barramundis winning all their matches over their Pacific neighbours to leave with the Gold Medal. This proved to be ideal preparation for the squad, who were to face sterner opposition at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Dubai.
The Barramundis began the Qualifiers on fire, winning their first two matches by 10 wickets and 80 runs against Namibia and Bermuda (respectively). At this point, the ‘Barras’ winning streak stood at 10 wins from 10 completed T20I matches, but that came to a halt with a narrow 4-run loss to Scotland. The Barramundis hit back from that loss, winning their next four matches, including a come-from-behind win against Kenya to register a thumping 45-run win, and seal a berth in 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India.
It was a fantastic year for the Barramundis with key contributions across the three tournaments over the course of the 2019 season, including 243 runs from Tony Ura in the EAP Regional Qualifiers, 10 wickets from Damien Ravu at the Pacific Games, and a fantastic all-round show from captain, Assad Vala with 10 wickets and 197 runs during the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.
Unfortunately, the Barras could not continue their rich vein of form in 2020, owing to the COVID 19 pandemic, however, should they need motivation, it comes in a figure, 87.50 – their chart-topping 2019 winning percentage!
The PNG Barramundis have several upcoming fixtures in 2021, all in the lead-up to their October 2021 debut at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India.
