PNG beat SIN by 43 runs | Papua New Guinea vs Singapore, Highlights And Cricket Score 31th T20 Match - Commentary

Whoa! Par did he say? That is some confidence. Can Singapore chase down 181? It will be a fun chase if it does happen. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, in the Ireland-Jersey game in Abu Dhabi, JERSEY HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 105. That should be a quick chase for the Irish.

Navin Param congratulates Papua New Guinea for posting a good total but believes that the spinners pulled it back. Further says that 180 is a par total and can be chased down. On the bowling plans, Param says that the idea was to stay away from the pads and they did that. On the wicket, Navin says that it looks flat and the bounce is consistent. Stresses that if the batsmen get off to a good start, they can chase the total down.

When you normally choose to bowl, you expect at least some control with the new ball. Singapore had no control. They let it slip at the start and then again at the end, managing to curtail the run flow in the middle overs. Navin Param was the pick of the bowlers with 2/24 in 4 overs and had he not been there, even 200 could have been breached. Here he is, talking to HD Ackerman.

Normally, in setting a big total, the opening plays a huge part. The captain Assad Vala and Tony Ura came out positive from the word go and smashed 61 in 36 balls for the first wicket, which set the tone. After that though, Singapore did come back but the Amini-Doriga stand took it away from them. The unbeaten 5th wicket partnership read 79 from just 47 balls, with both batsmen reaching 40s.

That is a mammoth total on the board. The Singapore skipper can look at it in two ways - A. Why did I insert these blokes? B. Great. If they have scored 180, we can score 181. There is no point in thinking about option A. While if he thinks about option B, even if they do chase this down, they need to do it in at least 18 overs to help their net run rate. If there is a well at one side, the other side has a valley. Where do you go?

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. Full and straight, powered down to long on for a couple to end the innings. PAPUA NEW GUINEA FINISH ON 180/4!

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. Full and just around off, driven down to long off for one. The batsmen think about the second but then change their mind.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. Full on middle, swung down to long on for a couple.

The physio is out in the middle again, for the customary concussion check. Not much time spent. He is off in a flash.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. Short and around off, Kiplin looks to pull but misses. The ball goes off the helmet behind the keeper. A leg bye taken.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. DROPPED! Rezza Gaznavi has spilled a sitter this time. A length ball outside off, Doriga swings hard but gets a top edge. The ball goes high in the air and two fielders come under it - one from cover and one from point. The former calls for it but puts it down. Two runs taken.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. SIX! THUMP! That is a great start to the final over. Fractionally short in length around off, Doriga backs away and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball lands 20 rows in the crowd! Or, say, seats. Not many people sitting.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. Pushes this through mid on for a brace.

Janak Prakash to Kiplin Doriga. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for one.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. Wide outside off, squeezed behind point for a run.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. Outside off, swung over mid-wicket for a brace.

Janak Prakash to Kiplin Doriga. Outside off, on a length, run down behind point for a single.

Janak Prakash to Kiplin Doriga. A yorker outside off, Doriga looks to dig it out but misses.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. The ball has found the edge of the bat. They've managed to run three.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. WIDE. Another slower ball, down the leg side, Charles looks to pull but misses. 15th wide of the innings.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. A slower ball, short of a length, heaved off the inner half behind square leg for a single.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. DROPPED! Simple chance put down. Navin Param it is. Amini comes down the track, takes the ball on the full and lofts it towards cover. Param over there, reacts a second late. In the end, it comes quickly to him and he jumps, attempting to reverse cup. The ball bursts through his hands and goes behind. A single taken.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. Around off, swung towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. SIX! Welcome back into the attack, skip! Full and straight, right in the slot, Doriga comes forward and swings it cleanly over long on! 50-RUN STAND COMES UP IN JUST 30 BALLS! 150 UP FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 17 balls left. Can they get to 180?

The captain is back on. Amjad Mahboob returns with figures of 2-0-22-1.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. Outside off, barely bounces, Amini throws his bat at it and gets a bottom edge which goes on the bounce behind. The keeper going to his left, reacts swiftly to change direction and half-stops it. Prevents the ball from hitting the helmet behind.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. A slower ball, on a length, around leg, CA looks to pull but misses. The ball goes over the stumps, on the bounce to the keeper.

Janak Prakash to Kiplin Doriga. Full and outside off, drilled down to long off for a single.

Janak Prakash to Kiplin Doriga. Full and wide outside off, Doriga swings hard but misses.

The physio is out in the middle now, for a mandatory concussion check. The batsman looks fine but the umpires do not want to take any chances these days. And rightly, they shouldn't.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. ON THE HELMET! That is short and around leg, Charles swivels to pull but the ball comes on much quicker than his anticipation. He is late on the shot and gets hit on the helmet. The ball drops down beside him and rolls towards point, with the non-striker calling him through for a single. The bowler himself asks the batsman whether he is alright and gets a nod in return.

Janak Prakash to Charles Amini. FOUR! Wrong line. Short and down the leg side, Amini pulls it to the fine leg fence!

Janak Prakash is back on. 2-0-20-0 so far.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. FOUR! THRASH! That is a good smack. Full and around off, Doriga gets down and mows a slog sweep over mid-wicket. Bounces just in front of the ropes. 12 from the over, 26 from the last 2!

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Looks to punch it down the ground but gets the bowler in his way.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Outside off, punched through the covers for a brace.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Excellent running. Full on middle, CA comes down the track and flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. WIDE. Not a bad ball actually, Param sees the batsman come down the track and fires it down the leg side. But Charles adjusts quickly, looks to pull but misses.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Gracious shot. Full and in line of the stumps, Amini comes down the track and lofts it nicely through covers. Surendran Chandramohan gets across to his right from long off, dives and keeps the ball in play. Two runs taken.

Vinoth Baskaran to Charles Amini. Tossed up delivery on middle, Amini drives it through mid on. The batsmen cross ends. 14 runs have come from the over.

Vinoth Baskaran to Charles Amini. SIX! That is huge! Floated delivery on off, Amini comes down the track and lofts it over long off for a biggie.

Vinoth Baskaran to Charles Amini. Flighted delivery on off, Amini looks to go over covers but gets a leading edge. It lands safely and goes towards the point region. The batsmen get two runs.

Vinoth Baskaran to Kiplin Doriga. Tossed up delivery on off, Doriga punches it towards point for a single.

Vinoth Baskaran to Kiplin Doriga. FOUR! Excellent shot. Short and outside off, Doriga cuts it hard through point for a boundary.

Vinoth Baskaran to Kiplin Doriga. Floated delivery on middle, Doriga looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Vinoth Baskaran returns. 2-0-10-0 so far.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Floated delivery on off, Doriga punches it towards point. The batsmen take a run.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Flighted delivery on middle, Doriga keeps it out.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Tossed up outside off, Doriga looks to cut but misses it.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Full delivery on off, Doriga drives it through covers. The batsmen get two runs.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Flighted delivery on off, Amini lofts it over mid off. The fielder at long off collects the ball on one bounce. The batsmen take a run.

Navin Param to Kiplin Doriga. Tossed up on off, Doriga drives it through point. The batsmen take a single.

Navin Param is back with a change of ends. 2-0-7-2 so far.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. Length delivery on middle, Doriga flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run. 7 runs and a wicket from the over.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. On a length on middle, Amini nudges it towards square leg for a single.

Amjad Mahboob to Charles Amini. Length delivery on middle, Amini flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. On a length on off, Doriga cuts it through point. The batsmen cross ends.

Amjad Mahboob to Kiplin Doriga. Full on middle, Doriga hits it over the bowler's head. It goes towards long on. The batsmen get two runs.

Kiplin Doriga walks in at number 6, replacing Bau.

Amjad Mahboob to Sese Bau. OUT! BOWLED! On a good length on middle, Bau looks to play a paddle sweep but misses it and gets bowled. It was an unnecessary shot from him. He should have carried on till the end of the innings.

The captain comes back on. Amjad Mehboob has figures of 1-0-15-0 so far.

Tim David to Charles Amini. Flighted delivery on off, Amini keeps it out.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Tossed up on middle, Bau drives it to long on for a single.

Tim David to Charles Amini. Floated delivery on middle, Amini drives it towards mid on for a single. 100 up for Papua New Guinea.

Tim David to Charles Amini. FOUR! That is another bad delivery. Little bit short, leg side and punished. Slower ball, Amini rocks back and pulls it behind square leg.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Tossed up on off, Bau plays it towards covers for a single.

Tim David to Charles Amini. Flighted delivery on middle, Amini flicks it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Tossed up on off, Amini plays it towards point. The batsmen take a run.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Flighted delivery on middle, Bau hits it straight towards the bowler where the bowler tries to get a hand to it but it goes wide of him towards long on. The batsmen cross ends.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Tossed up on off, Bau defends it off the back foot.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Floated delivery on middle, Amini plays it through mid on for a run.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Flighted delivery on middle, Amini defends it out.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Tossed up on off, Bau drives it to long off for a single.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Outside off, watchfully played with soft hands towards cover for a quick single.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Full and around middle, worked between long on and mid-wicket for an easy couple.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Down the leg side, Sese looks to flick but misses. A loud shout for LBW is turned down. Going down leg.

Tim David to Sese Bau. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Tim David to Sese Bau. Full and around middle, Bau works it towards long on and takes a single. He starts to go for the second and Avi Dixit charging in fumbles. They look for the third as well but let it be.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Around middle, worked towards long on for a single. Nice over for Singapore - 2 wickets and 3 runs from it.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Full and outside off, solidly blocked towards cover.

Navin Param to Charles Amini. Driven towards the mid on region. They pick up a single.

Well, Rangarajan is off the field as he dislocated his finger in trying to take the catch to dismiss Tony Ura.

Navin Param to Sese Bau. Outside off, eased through the covers for a single.

Sese Bau comes in at number 5, to face the hat-trick ball. Slip is in.

Navin Param to Lega Siaka. OUT! Appeal for a catch and given! The complexion of the game has changed big time. Full and outside off, thrown a bit wide, Siaka throws his bat at it, looking to drive but misses. The keeper appeals and the umpire's finger is raised. Hard to tell from the replays whether there was an edge. But the batsman did not seem to complain. Param is on a hat-trick!

Charles Amini walks in at number 4, replacing Ura.

Navin Param to Tony Ura. OUT! No, dropped, wait, TAKEN! What a grab that is from Rohan Rangarajan. To start off, it was a simple catch, he made it difficult for himself, but in the end, eventually took it. Full and outside off, Ura looks to loft this against the line, expecting the ball to spin but it just goes straight on. The top edge is induced and Rangarajan is ready for it at mid off. However, he loses it midway and then goes to his left, with the ball coming to his right. Tries to take it somehow, but the ball pops out. Here comes the fun. He sticks out his left hand in reflex action and it sticks!

Navin Param comes on to bowl now. Another offie.

Tim David to Tony Ura. Full and outside off, whipped to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Tim David to Lega Siaka. This one looked as though it gripped and spun. Worked from outside off through mid-wicket for a single.

Tim David to Lega Siaka. Short and outside off, placed towards point. The batsmen take the second on the throw and a better return could have had Lega in trouble.

Tim David to Lega Siaka. And again. A carbon copy of the previous delivery. Only this time, the batsman's stride was longer.

Tim David to Lega Siaka. Full and outside off, Siaka looks to defend but the ball spins in and beats the outside edge. A mild appeal for a caught behind but no one is interested.

Tim David to Tony Ura. Outside off, pushed towards point for a single.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. That's hit the batsman on his pads again.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. The batsman fails to get bat on that one and is hit on the pad.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. FIVE WIDES. Plan gone horribly wrong. Full and miles down the leg side, forget the flick shot getting missed, the keeper cannot get anywhere near the ball even with a fine dive.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. FOUR! Nice timing. Overpitched outside off, Siaka looks to drive and threads it through the covers!

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. Around off, defended solidly.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. Outside off, pushed towards point for a single. There is a slight misfield and the batsmen charge back for the second.

Avi Dixit to Lega Siaka. FOUR! It is going to be that sort of a day. A full toss wide outside off, Siaka looks to drive but the ball swings away, takes the outside edge and goes well past the diving fielder to the third man fence.

Lega Siaka walks in at number 3, replacing Vala. Avi Dixit, who took the catch, comes on to bowl as well.

Tim David to Assad Vala. OUT! Caught! The captain throws it away. Full and around middle, Vala looks to go downtown but mid on is stationed a bit deep. Avi Dixit gets around and takes it calmly. End of an excellent opening stand. 61/1 in the Powerplay, Papua New Guinea have set the tone.

Tim David to Assad Vala. Tossed up outside off, Assad looks to run it down to third man but misses. A bit of turn available.

Tim David to Tony Ura. Down the leg side, worked through square leg for a single.

Tim David to Tony Ura. FOUR! Excellent strokeplay. There is a ring of fielders on the off side but Ura has pierced that. Fractionally short outside off, Tony rocks back in a flash and cuts it between point, cover-point and cover. Figure that out.

Tim David to Tony Ura. Outside edge, but no slip. Full and outside off, Tony looks to drive hard but the length is too full to play that shot. The ball takes the outside edge and goes through the vacant slip cordon towards third man. A couple taken.

Tim David to Tony Ura. SIX! THRASH! 50-partnership up in style! Full and outside off, plenty of flight, Ura gets down and plays a slog sweep over mid-wicket!

Tim David to Assad Vala. WIDE. Another extra. Fired down the leg side, Vala misses his flick and the keeper cannot collect cleanly. A bye taken.

Tim David comes into the attack. Bowls off breaks.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. Length delivery on leg, Vala flicks it towards square leg for a single. Leg bye signalled. End of a long over where 15 runs have come from it.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. WIDE! Bowls it again down the leg side, Vala looks to flick but misses it. It goes past the keeper towards fine leg. The batsmen get two runs.

There is another match going on simultaneously in Abu Dhabi. It is between Ireland and Jersey. The latter are 36/2 in 5 overs after being put in. That is a Group A clash.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. WIDE! Bowls it again down the leg side, Vala looks to flick but misses it.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. WIDE! That is a touch harsh on the bowler. Vala comes down the track and backs away too. Seeing that, the bowler fires it outside leg. Vala misses his flick and the keeper dives to his right to collect. The umpire signals a wide but shouldn't some consideration been given to the bowler?

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. Short delivery on leg, Vala looks to pull but misses it. Was there a glove on it? The Singapore players did not go for a appeal.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. On a length on off, Ura plays it towards covers for a run.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. Full delivery on middle, Ura flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. WIDE! Bowls it down the leg side, Ura looks to flick but misses it.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. On a length on leg, Vala looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It goes towards fine leg for a single.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. FOUR! Cracking shot. Short and outside off, Vala cuts it hard through point for a boundary.

Janak Prakash is back on. 1-0-6-0 so far.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Full on off, Ura drives it to covers.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Flighted delivery on off, Vala punches it through covers. The batsmen take a single.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Tossed up delivery outside off, Vala looks to sweep but misses it.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Floated delivery on off, Ura plays it towards mid off and takes a run.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Flighted delivery on off, Ura keeps it out.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Tossed up on off, Ura plays it to point.

Amjad Mahboob to Tony Ura. Length delivery on off, Ura guides it towards third man for a run. 15 runs have come from the over. Big over for Papua New Guinea.

Amjad Mahboob to Assad Vala. On a length on off, Vala plays it towards point and takes a run.

Amjad Mahboob to Assad Vala. SIX! Amazing shot. Full on middle, Vala lofts it over mid-wicket for a maximum.

Amjad Mahboob to Assad Vala. FOUR! Nice shot. On a length on off, Vala comes down the track and lofts it over mid off for a boundary.

Amjad Mahboob to Assad Vala. Short delivery on middle, Vala pulls it to mid-wicket.

Amjad Mahboob to Tony Ura. Length delivery on off, Ura drives it straight past the bowler. It goes towards long off where the fielder does well to stop it. The batsmen get three runs.

Captain Amjad Mahboob brings himself into the attack.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Flighted delivery on leg, Vala sweeps it through square leg. The batsmen get two runs.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Floated delivery on off, Vala drives it through covers. The fielder chases it and does well to stop it before the ropes. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Tossed up on middle, Ura drives it towards mid on for a run.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Full on middle, Vala drives it through mid on. The batsmen cross ends.

Vinoth Baskaran to Tony Ura. Short delivery on off, Ura cuts it towards point where the fielder throws it at the bowler's end but the bowler fails to collect. It goes as overthrows and the batsmen take a single.

Vinoth Baskaran to Assad Vala. Flighted delivery on middle, Vala flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Vinoth Baskaran to bowl from the other end.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. Outside off, this is left alone.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. FOUR! TAKE THAT! Full and wide outside off, Ura leans and drives it through point for a boundary!

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. Short and outside off, Ura slashes hard but misses.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. Outside off, Vala taps it across and takes a quick single.

Janak Prakash to Assad Vala. Around middle and leg, Vala looks to tuck but misses and is hit on the pads. A mild LBW appeal ensues but nothing in it.

Janak Prakash to Tony Ura. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single. The fielder slides to his right to make a stop.

The players make their way out to the middle. Janak Prakash to start off proceedings. He has got a big plaster on his forehead, above his right eye. That is because in the 19th over of Singapore's game against Scotland with the ball, Kyle Coetzer smashed straight back at the bowler and the ball hit Prakash right above the eye. Thank heavens, he is safe. Assad Vala and Tony Ura will open for PNG. Ura to face. Here we go!

PITCH REPORT - Dirk Nannes has a look at the track and says that it looks like a DOG'S BREAKFAST. Stressing, he says that there are a few bare pitches and around them, there are huge spikes of grass. Further says that the track looks unusual but will play well, like a belter.

Assad Vala says that he would have batted first anyway, so now hopes to put on a good score and defend the same. Just looks to keep the basics right. Praises his bowlers for bowling well against the Netherlands yesterday. Informs that they are going in with an unchanged XI.

Singapore skipper, Amjad Mahboob, says the decision to bowl first is because the wicket looks good. Hopes to restrict PNG under 150 and then chase it down. On the losses, Amjad says that it might be overconfidence and also rues the ban of one of their bowlers (SELLADORE VIJAYAKUMAR). Informs two changes with Rohan Rangarajan and Avi Dixit coming in.

Singapore (Playing XI) - Surendran Chandramohan, Rohan Rangarajan (IN FOR AAHAN ACHAR), Tim David, Manpreet Singh(wk), Rezza Gaznavi, Aritra Dutta, Navin Param, Janak Prakash, Amjad Mahboob(c), Avi Dixit (IN FOR SIDHANT SINGH) and Vinoth Baskaran.

Papua New Guinea (UNCHANGED Playing XI) - Assad Vala(c), Tony Ura, Lega Siaka, Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Riley Hekure, Kiplin Doriga(wk), Jason Kila, Norman Vanua, Damien Ravu and Nosaina Pokana.

TOSS TIME! Singapore have won the toss and probably decided the right thing - TO CHASE. That is the main way they can improve their net run-rate, by trying to bowl Papua New Guinea out cheaply and then chase down the target quickly.

A win here should almost set one foot of PNG into the 2020 WT20 and they will aim to do exactly that - not leaving it to the final game. Singapore though, might find themselves relegated if they lose today. For argument sake, they can still make it with 6 points but then the net run rate will come into contention for sure - which is not the strongest point for them.

How are you all, early morning risers? And is there anyone who has got up after last night's clash? Tough job following all these games, isn't it? But don't worry. We shall always be there for you. 24 hours, 7 days a week. It has barely been 10 hours since the Bermuda-Scotland game but we are here with match number 31. It is a Group A clash between Papua New Guinea and Singapore in Dubai. A warm welcome to all.