The Lewas, the elite and formidable women’s national cricket team of Papua New Guinea, embodies national pride and competes at the highest level of international cricket under the aegis of Cricket PNG, an associate member of the esteemed International Cricket Council (ICC). Papua New Guinea, the reigning powerhouse of women’s cricket among the associates in the ICC East Asia-Pacific region, has made an indelible mark on the international stage since its debut in 2006.
Foundation of PNG Lewas:
The women’s national cricket team of Papua New Guinea, known as the Lewas, made its historic international debut in September 2006. In a highly competitive series against Japan, they emerged victorious by a score of three matches to nil, earning the right to represent the ICC East Asia-Pacific region at the 2008 World Cup Qualifier. However, despite their strong showing against Japan, the team was only able to secure two wins at the World Cup Qualifier, both against Bermuda.
However, the Lewas persevered and continued to work hard, but unfortunately failed to qualify for either the 2011 World Cup Qualifier or the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier, with Japan representing the EAP region on both occasions. But the team shined at the 2015 Pacific Games, which Papua New Guinea hosted, as a women’s cricket event was included for the first time.
They were undefeated until the final, narrowly losing to Samoa. The same year, Papua New Guinea participated in its second global tournament, the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier, and placed fifth out of eight teams. In April 2018, the ICC granted all its members full Women’s Twenty20 International (WT20I) status. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Papua New Guinea women and another international side since 1 July 2018 has been full WT20I.
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The team played its first WT20I match against Bangladesh on 7 July 2018 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen in the Netherlands, in the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier. The team’s hard work paid off when in May 2022, the ICC announced Papua New Guinea as one of five women’s sides to gain Women’s One Day International (ODI) status.
The other four teams are the Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand, and the USA. The team was led by the new head coach, Australian Kath Hempenstall, who was appointed in late 2021. Unfortunately, though, in 2021, they could not play in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier regional group due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, due to their ranking, Papua New Guinea qualified for the global qualifier held in 2022.
Achievements and History:
The tournament history of the esteemed women’s national cricket team of Papua New Guinea, known as the Lewas, is a testament to their unwavering dedication and perseverance in fierce competition. The team has consistently demonstrated its proficiency and competitiveness on the global stage, as evidenced by its performance at the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier. In 2015, the Lewas secured an impressive 5th place finish, narrowly missing out on qualification for the World Twenty20.
Despite falling short of qualification, the team continued to strive for excellence. In 2018 and 2019, they finished in 4th place both times, once again narrowly missing the opportunity to compete at the World Twenty20. In 2022 they finished in 5th place; though they could not qualify, the performance was remarkable. The team’s prowess on the field was further reinforced at the Pacific Games, where in 2019, they secured a respectable 2nd-place finish, solidifying their status as a formidable force in the world of cricket in the region.
PNG Lewas‘ journey has been marked by unwavering dedication, perseverance, and an unyielding spirit, despite falling short of qualification on several occasions. Their remarkable performance at the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier and Pacific Games is a testament to their undeniable talent and skill. The Lewas achieved Women’s One Day International (ODI) status in May 2022 and showed remarkable performance in their upcoming games. As a result, they have become a formidable force in the world of cricket in the region. The team’s journey inspires all, proving that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
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