The United States of America chased down a target of 159, set by Papua New Guinea, by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Steven Taylor starred with a 55-ball 82 before Nisarg Patel took four wickets.
Assad Vala won the toss and opted to bat first. Lega Siaka and Tony Ura could not score freely, and the former was undone by Saurabh Netravalkar in the third over. Ura played 31 balls for his 5 before getting bowled by Elmore Hutchinson.
Vala held the innings from one end, hitting timely boundaries. He added 56 for the fourth wicket with Sese Bau, who holed out to Sushant Modani off Patel for 31. A ball later, Patel struck again, this time removing Kiplin Doriga for a duck.
Vala (61) meanwhile completed his fifty before becoming the third victim of Patel. Gaudi Taka (18) and Jason Kila (10) then dragged PNG’s total to 158. Other than Patel (4-30), Nosthush Kenjige took three wickets and Netravalkar two.
Taylor and Sushant Modani then got the USA team off a rollicking start. Taylor was ruthless from the word go, smashing four sixes and a four in the sixth over, bowled by Jason Kila.
The duo added 107 runs for the opening stand. Modani got out on 24, while Taylor made 82 off 55 deliveries. They mowed down the total in 28.2 overs.
Brief scores: Papua New Guinea 158 in 44.2 overs (Assad Vala 61; Nisarg Patel 4-30) lost to United States of America 159/3 in 28.2 overs (Steven Taylor 82; Damien Ravu 1-28) by 7 wickets with 130 balls to spare.