The 18th match of the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026 saw Papua New Guinea Women face the United States of America Women. Papua New Guinea won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a competitive target, but a disciplined bowling performance from the USA restricted them to 110 for 5. The United States then chased down the target with five wickets in hand, sealing the victory in 18 overs.
Papua New Guinea’s innings got off to a cautious start, with Hollan Doriga finding it difficult to score freely at the top of the order. She managed 17 runs from 36 deliveries before being dismissed, leaving PNG in need of stability. That stability came through Konio Oala, who played a composed and responsible knock. Oala scored 41 off 40 balls, anchoring the innings and keeping the scoreboard ticking with timely boundaries and powerful shots down the ground.
Pauke Siaka provided momentum in the middle overs with an aggressive innings of 26 from 21 balls, striking three fours and keeping the USA bowlers under pressure. However, Papua New Guinea struggled to form long partnerships, as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Captain Brenda Tau had a short stay at the crease, while Sibona Jimmy contributed a brisk 10 off 10 balls. The lower order managed to add a few late runs, as PNG finished on 110 for 5 after their 20 overs.
The USA bowlers executed their plans well throughout the innings. Lekha Shetty was the most successful bowler, claiming three crucial wickets and breaking PNG’s momentum at key stages. Tara Norris and Aditiba Chudasama chipped in with one wicket each, while Isani Vaghela kept things tight with her economical spell.
Chasing 111, the United States began confidently, with openers Chetna Pagydyala and Gargi Bhogle putting together a strong partnership. Pagydyala played fluently, scoring 32 off 34 balls with five boundaries, while Bhogle anchored the innings with a well-paced 35 from 39 deliveries. Their partnership laid a solid foundation and kept the required run rate under control.
After their dismissals, Papua New Guinea fought back briefly with wickets in the middle overs. Aditiba Chudasama and Isani Vaghela were dismissed cheaply, creating a moment of pressure. Ella Claridge contributed 13. However, Ritu Singh’s calm and impactful unbeaten knock of 13 off 8 balls, including a six and a four, ensured the chase stayed on track. Pooja Ganesh remained not out at the other end, guiding the team safely to the finish line.
For Papua New Guinea, Dika Lohia impressed with the ball, picking up two wickets and bowling with control. Henao Thomas, Pauke Siaka, and Sibona Jimmy also took one wicket each, but the target proved slightly below par.
In the end, it was a well-rounded performance from the USA, combining disciplined bowling with a composed batting effort. The five-wicket win will give them momentum, while Papua New Guinea will look to regroup and improve their batting consistency.
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