ABOUT THE MATCH
Having confirmed their places at the ICC T20 World Cup for the first time, Papua New Guinea and Namibia now face each other in the second semi-final of the qualifier tournament. The match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on November 1.
Papua New Guinea won five of their six group matches to unexpectedly top Group A and book their World Cup spot. Those five wins included a dominant early victory against Namibia, in which Tony Ura and Assad Vala starred.
Namibia bounced back from that defeat by winning five games in a row, however storming into the play-offs and then into the World Cup. The bowlers have been especially key, with Bernard Scholtz who took three in the play-off win against Oman taking 14 in seven matches in total.
TOSS PREDICTION
Papua New Guinea has not won the toss since they last played Namibia losing four in a row since. If they overturn that run of bad luck, they will surely look to bat first as they did in that match on a batting wicket in Dubai.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
As ever, Dubai will be perfect for cricket with hot, dry conditions.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium favors batting, particularly in the first innings of matches.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Papua New Guinea
Tony Ura, Norman Vanua, Assad Vala (c), Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Lega Siaka, Damien Ravu, Kiplin Doriga (wk), Jason Kila, Nosaina Pokana, Riley Hekure
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Namibia
Stephan Baard, Niko Davin, JP Kotze, Christi Viljoen, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Craig Williams, Jan Frylinck, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo
MATCH PREVIEW
Papua New Guinea
- Papua New Guinea has fielded the same team for all six matches so far and it is unlikely there will be any changes going into the play-offs.
- Papua New Guinea won five of their six matches in the group stage to finish the top and book their World Cup place.
- The key victory came against the Netherlands when Assad Vala scored 37 and they chased 127 to win by five wickets.
- Since then, they have also beaten Singapore by 43 runs thanks to Damien Ravu’s 4-18 from four overs and won a low-scoring final group game against Kenya.
- In the latter, Norman Vanua hit 54 as Papua New Guinea recovered from 19/6 after four overs to post 118 all out.
- In reply, Assad Vala took 3-7 and Nosaina Pokana 3-21 as they bowled Kenya out for 73.
Namibia
- After their second defeat of the group stage, against Papua New Guinea, Namibia welcomed opener Stephan Baard and teenager Ben Shikongo back.
- They have since won five in a row without making any further changes.
- Namibia started this tournament with two defeats but has won five in a row since beating Scotland to kick-start their revival and then seeing off Bermuda, Kenya, and Singapore to charge into the play-offs.
- In the latter, Gerhard Erasmus hit 72 from 46 balls in a total of 191/8 and Jan Frylinck claimed 4-21 as Singapore collapsed to 104 all out.
- In the play-offs, JJ Smit hit 59 as Namibia recovered from 69/5 to post 161/7 and he then claimed two wickets, while Bernard Scholtz and Gerhard Erasmus took three apiece, as they bowled Oman who had been 58/1 in reply out for 107.
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
Papua New Guinea was in excellent form in the group stage and, while Namibia is in resurgent form, the Barras can book the final spot their form in this tournament merits.
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