Morea, Reva lift PNG to third place

Vani Morea's maiden List A century and John Reva's all-round effort led Papua New Guinea to a 21-run win over Kenya in their World Cricket League Championship match on Monday. PNG's second consecutive win against Kenya, after their six-wicket triumph on Saturday, lifted them to third on the points table.

Morea scored an unbeaten 102, opening the innings, to steer PNG to 249 for 6 in 50 overs after they elected to bat at Amini Park in Port Moresby. In reply, Kenya were on course at 210 for 3 in the 45th over, but medium-pacer Reva's career-best 4 for 31 led to a collapse and they were bowled out for 228 all out in 47.5 overs.

PNG were reduced to 27 for 2 by the seventh over after losing Lega Siaka and Assad Vala. Morea and Sese Bau then combined for a third-wicket stand of 124 to steady the innings. Bau contributed 66 off 78 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes before he was trapped lbw by legspinner Collins Obuya. PNG lost quick wickets after the partnership was broken but Morea held firm and, along with Reva, added 73 unbeaten runs for the seventh wicket to steer PNG to 249. Reva was unbeaten on 43 off 33 balls, having crunched four fours and two sixes. Obuya was Kenya's best bowler with figures of 4 for 42 off eight overs.

Kenya lost opener Irfan Karim early, while Gurdeep Singh's opening burst ended on 27 off 19 in the sixth over. The two Patels - Rushab, who top-scored with 95, and Rakep, the captain, stitched together a third-wicket stand of 88. After Rakep's dismissal, Obuya (38) continued the good work by adding 85 for the fourth wicket with Rushab. Once the duo fell - in the space of eight deliveries in the 45th and 46th overs - Kenya lost their last five wickets for 13 runs.

Norman Vanua, the new-ball bowler, took three wickets, but was expensive and leaked 47 in seven overs. Chad Soper and Bau took a wicket apiece.