Cricket in Papua-New Guinea is perhaps the most romantic of all the Associate members - a game played across the country, inspiring dedication to the point where players are reknowned for walking days to attend Easter's national championships.

Its 455-9 (60 overs) in 1986 is still an ICC Trophy tournament record and PNG officials talk with pride of their defeat of future Test nation, Bangladesh, to take third place at the 1982 ICC Trophy.

They point to a desperate last over win by a visiting Victorian Sheffield Shield team several seasons ago as an indication of the latent potential existing among the cricketers of PNG.

While the coastal and highland regions provide the romance (and not inconsiderable talent), it is capital, Port Moresby, which is the strength of PNG cricket.

It was Port Moresby which were the perennial title holders of the national championships, which until last year were held on an inter-regional basis.

And while the Lae Cricket Association may argue, it's the eight team Port Moresby competition which is said to be PNG's strongest.

Hoods, the 1999-2000 season premier, looks likely to again be in contention following its seven wicket win over United in the opening round of the competition last weekend.

Poreporena seems set to benefit from a rumoured off-season recruiting drive, following its 82 run victory over Coasters, said to normally be one of the competition's better batting teams.

Kempa demonstrated why it is reputed to have one of the competition's better bowling attacks with its five wicket win over Raukele, while Mobil Steamships reaffirmed its reputation as a batting force, smashing 271 all-out before removing Mariners for 153.

Brief scores:
Mobil Steamships 271 (43.5 overs) (G.Keimelo 78; A.Loa 4-50) defeated Mariners 153 (33.3 overs) (A.Sale Vaieke 42, G.Rarua 44; G.Keimelo 3-24, R.Vagi 4-38) by 118 runs
Poreporena 225 (42 overs) (R.Ipi 79, D.Morea 61; L.Ao 4-28) defeated Coasters 143-10 (R.Ipi 3-27) by 82 runs
Raukele 163 (40 overs) (R.Ginale 63; L.Sinoi 3-32) lost to Kempa 168-5 by five wickets
United 155 (30.2 overs) (V.Kevau 46; A.Napiri 3-54, V.Ilagerea 4-26) lost to Hoods 156-3 (W.Vala 82) by seven wickets.

This season's league will see the clubs play each other twice before the commencement of a five team finals competition. A knockout competition will run concurrently with the finals series.

To aid PNG's preparations for next year's ICC Trophy, the Port Moresby Cricket Association intends to pit four teams against each other, chosen from the capital's best talent. The series will be played after the grand final.

Cricket is played at the junior level, with inter-school matches, and the introduction of an Under 19 competition, replacing the old C Grade league. There is also an optional Under 16 competition as well as Liklik cricket, understood to be a PNG version of Kanga Cricket.

Like most capital cities, Port Moresby is quite cosmopolitan attracting ethnic groups from all over PNG.

While race is not an issue in Port Moresby cricket, and clubs do not discriminate on the basis of ethnic background, Papuans and Motuans tend to dominate Port Moresby cricket.

Factors such as social background and language lead to clubs such as Coasters, Kempa, Raukele and Hoods mainly attracting Papuans while Mariners, United and Poreporena chiefly consisting of Motuans, while Mobile Steamships tends to be a mix. Increasingly, however, those distinctions are fading with players from both ethnic groups happily playing together in the same teams.

Cricket is said to be a popular part of Port Moresby social life with people getting together, chatting, singing and mingling, with the odd beer consumed under the shade of a tree. All the while they will be chewing the betelnut, an inseparable part of the game in PNG. Typically mothers will cook food which will be transported to the ground by their young sons and daughters, where it will be shared by entire teams during the luncheon interval.

The heat and humidity makes playing sticky, but the players come back despite limited facilities.

Those facilities include the much vaunted Amini Park where Allan Border conducted a 'turning of the soil' ceremony in September last year as part of a PNG Cricket Board initiative. Disappointingly, funding became an issue and the park was never properly developed. Despite hefty media coverage of its opening, it has a cement pitch and no usuable practice pitch.

The Port Moresby Cricket Association has taken the initiative and is looking to fund the instillation of concrete cricket wickets.

The pitches in Port Moresby are typically concrete pitches with synthetic or canvas matting.

The PMCA is honoured to have as its Patron, the Prime Minister of Papua-New Guinea, Sir Mekere Morauta, a keen cricket enthusiast. The Prime Minister has asked the PMCA Board to start preparing a submission along with other users of the grounds like Australian Rules football, soccer, softball and other sports, softball etc to develop a multi purpose facility in Port Moresby.

The Prime Minister recently bowled the ceremonial first ball of the summer during a match which could be likened to Port Moresby's version of an All Star game, featuring the majority of its best players, to herald the opening of the season.

The teams were: Patron's XI - Rarua Dikana (United)(13 & 1-10), Peter Moide (STC), Leka Leka (Hoods)(23 & 1-37), Jamie Iga (Raukele)(43), Rarua Ipi (Marines)(18 & 2-23), Chris Alu (Raukele)(2-40), Pala Karona (Kempa)(24), Mahuta Kivung (STC)(49 & 1-19), Alala Napiri (Hoods)(1-15), Mea Udu (United) (2-32), Sere Ao (United); President's XI - John Ovia (Kempa)(51 & 3-37), Aukuma Noka (Raukele)(1-29), Mahuru Dao (United)(33), Aume Ila (Raukele), Daniel Faunt (Coasters)(20), Ipi Morea (United)(25), Daniel Alu (Hoods), Toka Gaudi (Kempa)(16 & 1-45), Ross Vagi (STC)(14 & 2-20)), Kohu Dai (United) (2-25), Hobart Magulu Jnr (Hoods)(1-26)

For the record, the Patron's XI scored 213 batting first from 43 ovrs, before bowling out the President's XI for 209 off 45.4 overs. Patron XI's young Mahuta Kivung was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 49 off 66 deliveries.

'Beyond The Test World' hopes to feature as many of the provincial associations throughout the PNG 2000-2001 season and would welcome provincial associations volunteering information about cricket in their centres.

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