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Papua New Guinea (PNG) batter Tony Ura turned on ballistic mode to help his side register their highest-ever run chase in T20I cricket. After losing three games in a row, PNG made a comeback in Nepal T20I Tri-series 2022 in style with a thumping win over Malaysia.
Ura hit as many as 10 sixes in his unbeaten 86-run knock. Chasing a daunting total of 197, PNG were struggling to keep up with the required run rate when Ura walked in to bat in the ninth over. He started his innings in style with a six off the first ball he faced against Syazrul Idrus. He provided the much-needed support to skipper Assad Vala.
Ura continued to attack and Vala joined the party as well after reaching his half-century. Ura hit just two fours in his innings and took the aerial route more often. With 20 runs needed off the last three overs, Ura decided to finish the match early and provide his side some chance of qualifying for the final of tri-series tournament. He hit Sharvin Muniandy for three sixes and a four in the 18th over to wrap up the run chase with 13 balls to spare.
He remained unbeaten for 86 off 34 deliveries. He scored at a blinding strike rate of 252.94. This is the second-highest score by a PNG batter in the format. The 32-year-old is also the only PNG batter to score a T20I century. On the other end, skipper Vala remained unbeaten for 74 off 51 deliveries including eight fours and one six.
With 10 sixes, the PNG veteran batter is in joint-sixth place on the list of most sixes in a T20I innings. He is also the fourth batter to hit 10 or more sixes without reaching the three figures.
Earlier, skipper Ahmad Faiz, Syed Aziz's half-centuries and Zubaidi Zulkifle's 22-ball 46 helped Malaysia post 196/6. Kabua Morea turned out to be the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 29 runs in his three overs.
PNG are now placed second on the points table of the tournament. If Malaysia manage to beat Nepal On April 2, they will qualify for the final. If hosts Nepal continue their winning run in the tournament, PNG will go on to play the final on April 4 as they have a better Net Run Rate (NRR).
