PNG’s women ready for the world

Papua New Guinea’s national women’s cricket team, the PNG Lewas, have just completed a historic campaign at the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC), stepping into the grand tradition of Australian country cricket as part of their build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers.

The team’s presence at the tournament, made possible by PacificAus Sports, provided the players with valuable exposure to high-performance competition, just days before they travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal, where 2026 World Cup qualification will be decided.

Pressure, pace and possibility

Held in Adelaide at the start of January, the ACCC brought state-based country sides together to compete in seven consecutive days of T20 and one-day matches.

The Lewas opened their campaign with a thrilling one-run win over New South Wales Country Women, setting the tone for a week defined by tight contests and learning under pressure. A narrow loss to Victoria Country Women followed, with the match decided in the final over, before the Lewas delivered a composed 20-run win against Queensland Country Women. In the remaining T20 matches, the Lewas fell short of the target set by Western Australia Country Women on Wednesday, before bouncing back on Thursday to post 133 against South Australia and restrict their opponents to 93 in reply.

The one-day matches proved more challenging. Against South Australia, the Lewas were bowled out just one run short of their opponent’s total, before Western Australia Country Women set a demanding target in the final match that the Lewas were unable to chase down. The results were a reminder of the intensity required of players competing in multi-day tournaments, and of the value of exposure at this level.

Cricket PNG Board Chairman Michael Harrison said the Australia and Nepal tours marked a critical phase in the team’s pathway.

“The Australia and Nepal tours provide essential match exposure at a crucial time, particularly with World Cup qualification at stake,” Harrison said. “We acknowledge the strong backing of our partner, the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports, whose support enables these opportunities for our athletes.”

Momentum built over time

The ACCC campaign reflects how far the PNG Lewas have come in recent years, shaped by a steady program of support and increasingly meaningful competition.

That competitive progress was most clearly underlined in September 2025, when the Lewas were crowned champions of the ICC Women’s East Asia–Pacific T20 Qualifier in Suva. The title secured their place at the Global Qualifiers and confirmed their growing reputation as a team to watch. The Lewas entered 2026 ranked 13th in the ICC Women’s T20I standings, no longer outsiders, but a team with results to defend.

PNG Lewas Head Coach Mahuru Dai believes the team is entering a defining phase.

“I believe in this team — we can qualify,” Dai said. “The Australian Country Championships tested our execution against quality opposition, while the Global Qualifiers in Nepal will demand peak performance every match. Our focus is on preparation, adaptability and belief. The players understand what is at stake, and the team is fully committed to competing at the highest level.”

Chairman of the National Selection Panel Hudson Leka echoed that confidence, pointing to the balance the squad has struck.

“These tournaments demand both skill and mental toughness,” Leka said. “We are confident the selected squad represents the best balance of experience and emerging talent available to PNG women’s cricket.”

As the focus shifts from Adelaide to Kathmandu, the Lewas will be joined by Australian coach Julia Price, thanks to support through PacificAus Sports. A former international wicketkeeper and two-time World Cup winner, Price brings decades of elite experience across playing and coaching, spanning women’s and men’s programs and emerging cricket nations.

Together, these experiences are shaping a team that is no longer finding its place, but refining its edge — ready to test itself on the global stage, and confident it belongs there.

National pride, regional momentum

For the players, qualification for the Global Qualifiers was more than a competitive milestone. It was a moment of personal and national pride. Captain Brenda Tau reflected on that feeling immediately after the East Asia–Pacific Qualifier victory in Suva.

“It’s indeed a team effort,” she said. “I feel excited about what’s coming ahead. When I looked back at my girls, I just felt so proud to be part of this team.”

That pride has been mirrored in the wider growth of women’s cricket across the Pacific. Events such as the PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational, held in Port Moresby in June 2025, have brought Pacific nations together in high-quality competition, strengthening pathways and deepening rivalries in an environment built on respect and shared ambition.

As the Lewas arrived in Nepal, they carried not just form and preparation, but the confidence of a team representing something bigger than themselves.

Eyes on Kathmandu — and beyond

The Global Qualifiers in Nepal run from 14 January to 1 February, with ten teams competing for four spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in England and Wales later in the year. The Lewas began with warm-up games against Zimbabwe and Scotland, before group matches commenced on 18 January.

Whether or not qualification comes this time, the trajectory is clear. With one-day international status secured through to 2029 and women’s cricket returning to the Olympic stage at Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032, the Lewas are building toward a future rich with opportunity. The team belongs on this stage — and they’re ready for what comes next.