8 Aug 2012

Sport: Top level exposure aids PNG ahead of Youth World Cup

11:08 am on 8 August 2012

Papua New Guinea will complete their build-up to the U19 Cricket World Cup with a final practice match against Pakistan today.

The Garamuts have mixed two wins and two losses so far, with Lega Siaka notching 106 in yesterday's 8 wicket win over Nepal.

Coach Peter Anderson says a number of his squad have benefited from being blooded into the senior PNG team at a one-day tournament late last month.

"We played at least six of the under 19s and gave them a really good opportunity against Hong Kong, Singapore and a Gold Coast based team, which had two Queensland Bulls players in there. We won five games straight and they performed very well. Chris Kent got a hundred in the T20 game, Charles Amini bowled very well and Raymond and Norman - our opening attack - bowled very neatly so it was a fantastic hitout for us."

PNG's first game at the U19 World Cup is against Zimbabwe in Townsville on Saturday.