West Indies stuttered and stumbled before eventually scrambling a five-wicket win with an over to spare over minnows Papua New Guinea in the opening group C encounter of the T20 World Cup at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.
Set a modest target of 137, the two-time former champions were undone by clever, disciplined PNG bowling, slumping to 97 for five with only four overs left when allrounder Roston Chase's unbeaten 42 off 27 balls stole the spotlight from the power-hitting Andre Russell to take their team to victory at 137 for five off 19 overs.
Vala led the way with the ball for the underdogs in taking two for 28 from four overs of spin after seamer Alei Nao struck at the start of the West Indies chase with the wicket of Johnson Charles off the first ball.When both fell within 11 deliveries of each other and captain Rovman Powell followed, PNG sensed an upset of monumental proportions before Chase redressed the balance when joined by Russell following the swift demise of Sherfane Rutherford.
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