Papua New Guinea women's national cricket team
The Papua New Guinea women's national cricket team, nicknamed the Lewas, represents the country of Papua New Guinea in international women's cricket. The team is organised by Cricket PNG, an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
 Cricket PNG logo | ||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Lewas | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Cricket PNG | |||||||||
| Personnel | ||||||||||
| Captain | Kaia Arua | |||||||||
| Coach | Kath Hempenstall | |||||||||
| International Cricket Council | ||||||||||
| ICC status | Associate member (1973) | |||||||||
| ICC region | East Asia-Pacific | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Women's international cricket | ||||||||||
| First international | v.  Japan at Port Moresby; 12 September 2006 | |||||||||
| Women's One Day Internationals | ||||||||||
| Women's World Cup Qualifier appearances | 2 (first in 2008) | |||||||||
| Best result | 7th (2008) | |||||||||
| Women's Twenty20 Internationals | ||||||||||
| First WT20I | v.  Bangladesh at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen; 7 July 2018 | |||||||||
| Last WT20I | v.  Indonesia at Vanuatu Cricket Ground, Port Vila; 8 September 2023 | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier appearances | 3 (first in 2015) | |||||||||
| Best result | 4th (2018, 2019) | |||||||||
| As of 8 September 2023 | ||||||||||
Papua New Guinea has been the leading women's associate team in the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) since its international debut in 2006. It has represented EAP at the 50-Over World Cup Qualifier and T20 World Cup Qualifier on a number of occasions, making the semi-finals of the 2018 and 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifiers. It was awarded One Day International (ODI) status in 2022.
History
Papua New Guinea made its international debut in September 2006, playing a three-match series against Japan to determine which team would represent the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region at the 2008 World Cup Qualifier.[4] Papua New Guinea won the series against Japan three–nil, but at the World Cup Qualifier won only two matches, both against Bermuda.[5]
The team failed to qualify for either the 2011 World Cup Qualifier or the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier, with Japan representing the EAP region on both occasions.[6]
At the 2015 Pacific Games, which Papua New Guinea hosted, a women's cricket event was included for the first time. The team narrowly lost to Samoa in the final, having been undefeated up to that point.[4] Later in the year, Papua New Guinea participated at its second global tournament, the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier, placing fifth out of eight teams.[6]
In April 2018, the ICC granted full Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Papua New Guinea women and another international side since 1 July 2018 have been a full WT20I.[7]
The team played its first WT20I match against Bangladesh on 7 July 2018 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen in Netherlands in the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier.
In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.[8] Papua New Guinea were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier regional group, alongside seven other teams.[9] However, in August 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the tournament had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[10] and due to their ranking, Papua New Guinea qualified for the global qualifier held in 2022.
In October 2021, it was reported that Australian Kath Hempenstall had been appointed head coach of the Lewas in preparation for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, and it was expected that Hempenstall would meet the team in person for the first time there.[11] However, on 8 November 2021, Papua New Guinea announced that they had been forced to withdraw due to several players recording positive tests for COVID-19.[12]
In May 2022, the ICC announced Papua New Guinea as one of five women's sides to gain Women's One Day International (ODI) status.[13] Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand and the United States are the other four teams.[14]
Current squad
This lists all the players who were named in the most recent squad. Updated on 9 October 2022.
Uncapped players are listed in italics.
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||
| Tanya Ruma | 30 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Vice-captain |
| Naoani Vare | 25 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Melanie Ani | 18 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| All-rounders | ||||
| Sibona Jimmy | 30 | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Kaia Arua | 32 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm unorthodox | Captain |
| Pauke Siaka | 37 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Wicket-keeper | ||||
| Brenda Tau | 25 | Left-handed | ||
| Kevau Frank | 22 | Right-handed | ||
| Spin Bowlers | ||||
| Vicky Araa | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Henao Thomas | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Pace Bowlers | ||||
| Isabel Toua | 28 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Hollan Doriga | 20 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Ravina Oa | 28 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Mairi Tom | 37 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Geua Tom | 28 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
Tournament history
Pacific Games
- 2019: 2nd
Records and Statistics
International Match Summary — Papua New Guinea Women[15]
Last updated 8 September 2023
| Playing Record | ||||||
| Format | M | W | L | T | NR | Inaugural Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty20 Internationals | 44 | 32 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 7 July 2018 |
Twenty20 International
- Highest team total: 219/5 v. Fiji on 3 October 2022 at Independence Park Ground 2, Port Vila.[16]
- Highest individual innings: 88*, Naoani Vare v. Fiji on 5 October 2022 at Vanuatu Cricket Ground, Port Vila.[17]
- Best innings bowling: 5/2, Hollan Doriga v. Fiji on 3 October 2022 at Vanuatu Cricket Ground (Oval 2), Port Vila.[18]
|
Most T20I runs for PNG Women[19]
|
Most T20I wickets for PNG Women[20]
|
T20I record versus other nations[15]
Records complete to WT20I #1640. Last updated 8 September 2023.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Full members | |||||||
| Bangladesh |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 July 2018 | |
 Ireland |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 July 2018 | |
 Zimbabwe |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 September 2022 | |
| ICC Associate members | |||||||
 Cook Islands |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 September 2023 | 2 September 2023 |
 Fiji |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 May 2019 | 7 May 2019 |
| Indonesia |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 May 2019 | 6 May 2019 |
| Japan |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 May 2019 | 9 May 2019 |
 Netherlands |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 July 2018 | 10 July 2018 |
 Samoa |
9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 May 2019 | 10 May 2019 |
 Scotland |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 July 2018 | 1 September 2019 |
 Thailand |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 September 2019 | |
 United Arab Emirates |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 July 2018 | 8 July 2018 |
 United States |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 September 2019 | 3 September 2019 |
 Vanuatu |
8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 May 2019 | 6 May 2019 |
References
- "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
- "WT20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- "WT20I matches - 2023 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- Other women's matches played by Papua New Guinea women Archived 19 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine – CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- Women's List A matches played by Papua New Guinea women Archived 19 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine – CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- Women's Twenty20 matches played by Papua New Guinea women – CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- "All T20I matches to get international status". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- "Qualification for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- "ICC announce qualification process for 2023 Women's T20 World Cup". The Cricketer. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- "ICC Confirm Cancellation of EAP Tournaments in 2021". Japan Cricket Association. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- "PNG Lewas' New Head Coach Brings Experience and Optimism". PNG Haus Bung. 8 October 2021.
- "PNG forced to withdraw from ODI World Cup qualifiers after several players test positive for Covid-19". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Two new teams in next edition of ICC Women's Championship". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- "ICC awards ODI status to five Associate Women's Teams". Emerging Cricket. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- "Records / Papua New Guinea Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo.
- "Records / PNG Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "Records / PNG Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "Records / PNG Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Best Bowling figures". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "Records / PNG Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo.
- "Records / PNG Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo.
Further reading
- Almond, Ali (29 January 2023). "Meet the seven trailblazing mothers in Papua New Guinea's national cricket team". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Ninan, Susan (1 October 2022). "Cricket helps us feel important. It gives us the courage to fight". podium.bulletin.com. Publisher: Malala Yousafzai. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
