By Ravendra Madholall in Guyana

Two-time champions West Indies began their International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup
campaign on a winning note, defeating Papua New Guinea by five wickets at the Guyana National
Stadium, Providence, last Sunday.

In this Group C fixture, the West Indies successfully chased down Papua New Guinea’s modest total of
135 with one over to spare. Leading the way was Barbadian Royston Chase with a responsible, unbeaten

42. The right-handed Chase, along with power-hitter Andre Russell, finished off the match with a steady,
    unbroken 37-run stand. Russell contributed 14 runs to the partnership.

Chase batted with a mixture of tight defense and occasional aggression, hitting two sixes and four fours
from 27 balls. The West Indies initially struggled to find momentum after losing Johnson Charles for a
duck. However, batting sensation Nicolas Pooran and opener Brandon King put on a 53-run partnership
for the second wicket to bring the team back into contention. Pooran hit two sixes in his 27-run innings
before King was dismissed for 34.

Despite a middle-order collapse, where skipper Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford fell for 14 and
2 respectively, Chase and Russell guided the West Indies to victory. Captain Assad Vala was the pick of
the bowlers for Papua New Guinea, grabbing two wickets for 28 runs from his four off-spin overs.

Earlier, Papua New Guinea, batting first at the invitation of the hosts, suffered an early setback when
Tony Ura was taken by wicketkeeper Pooran for 2, and Lega Siaka (01) had his off-stump rocked back by
left-arm orthodox spinner Akeal Hosein. Sese Bau then scored a brilliant half-century to stabilize the
innings. The left-handed Bau cracked six fours and a six in his 52, with support from Kiplin Doriga, who
scored 27, and Vala, who added 21.

Russell claimed 2-19 off his four medium-pace overs, while quickie Alzarri Joseph also accounted for two
victims but conceded 34 runs in his four-over spell. Chase was named player of the match for his fine
batting performance.

Looking ahead, West Indies, who are co-hosting the mega event with the USA, will play Uganda on
Saturday under the lights at the same venue. Papua New Guinea will face Uganda on Wednesday, also in
Guyana. The twenty-team tournament is slated to conclude on June 29th in Barbados, with England as
the defending champions.

In the curtain-raiser on Saturday, the USA beat Canada by 7 wickets with 14 balls remaining. Canada
batted first after being invited by their North American neighbors, reaching a challenging 194-5 from
their 20 overs, with Navneet Dhaliwal making 61 and Nicolas Kirton chipping in with 52. In reply, the USA
made 197-3, with Aaron Jones striking an unbeaten 94. Canada, who are in Group A, will play Ireland on
Friday, while the USA will meet Pakistan this Wednesday.