Good morning on the third day of tournament play here in Hong Kong. Peter Della Penna at Hong Kong Cricket Club where USA is warming up for their massive showdown with Papua New Guinea. Ritesh Kadu is warming up with the keeping gloves on while Carl Wright is running around taking his practice with the rest of the team so it looks like Kadu will be making his debut today. No official word on the entire team composition though and we're 10 minutes away from the toss. 

It's chilly here, similar conditions to the Saturday's game against Hong Kong. It's very overcast at the moment as well and speaking with the groundsman, he says that this pitch has more grass left on it than the ones used for the first two matches at this ground and that winning the toss and fielding is the smart move today. Just feeling the outfield, there's a lot of moisture so I'm sure the pitch has it's fair share too. 

Always bowl first at HKCC. If you've got a good outswing bowler, have him bowl a stump to stump line from the scoreboard end. Worked wonders over the years. Sounds like Kadu in for Aditya, and I'd have Forrest in as an extra medium pacer up there, taking out one of the spinners, which unfortunately would probably be the youngster at this point. This could be a big toss to win. I think if USA wins it, PNG can be bowled out for 150 if we hit our spots on an overcast day. If PNG win the toss, I think 225 will win the game for USA. Small boundaries again, especially by the swimming pool (big net protecting it in case anyone's concerned for the safety of the swimmers), but for a change, some help for the bowlers in the pitch. If anyone remembers the Silk Cut Challenge to find the world's best all-rounder in the mid-eighties, it was played at this ground. I think it was Hadlee, Imran, Kapil, Botham, Rice, Marshall, Gooch (!) and not sure if there were others, it was a while ago.

USA have tended to lose at least 1 game each series of the World Cricket League, where the players may have become complacent. They have also tended to refocus and come out very aggressively in the next game.

It will be fascinating seeing how USA go today against PNG. A win to USA will mean that no team will be undefeated after the first 3 games, with the competition wide open again. A win to PNG will mean that PNG are 3-0 and USA are 1-2 and would probably have to rely on other results going their way to finish in the top 2.

Howard Johnson, the assistant coach, was added to USA's squad as a replacement player for Aditya Thyagarajan... and he's been selected to play today at the age of 46 ahead of 28 year-old Durale Forrest. I'm sure there will be some interesting feedback regarding that. Muhammad Ghous has also been dropped as expected in favor of Ritesh Kadu, who will be keeping. Carl Wright will play as a specialist batsman.

PNG has won the toss and elected to field. 

USA XI: Massiah (c), Kadu (wk), Baker, Wright, Cush, Nadkarni, Marshall, Shuja, Khan, Darlington, Johnson.

PNG XI: Dikana (c), Vare-Kevere (wk), Areni, Amini, Dai, Kent, Kila, Nou, Pala, Ura, Vala. 

 The last time Howard Johnson played for USA was at the Champions Trophy in 2004 against Australia. As a 40-year-old, he opened the bowling and took 1 for 26 in three overs, with the wicket being Matthew Hayden.

Wow. I don't know what to say. Can't imagine what Durale Forrest, not to mention Ryan Corns, must be thinking.

Lennox Cush and Carl Wright are out to open, Wright on strike to Loa Nou. Moments away from the start of a huge day.

 Cush is gone in the second over to what looked like a very poor decision. It was full outside off, he went to defend and the ball cut back and hit him low on the pad, just above the shoes, and went low to second slip. He was given out caught. I don't think he came close to getting bat on the ball. It was a loud, thudding pad sound, no inside edge off the pad to slip and I had a very good view. Steve Massiah just creamed a full delivery down the ground. The boundaries are short and the outfield quick here. Carl Wright has survived a very good LBW shout to end the third over. After three, USA 12 for 1. Nou is getting a lot of swing from the Wong Chai Gap Road End.

 

Bad toss to lose.. and rough time for Kadu to bat on debut! They desperately need a bit of a partnership..

 

wonder if we can quickly recall Richard Staple and bring him into the middle order...

 USA is under immense pressure here. Steve Massiah will be tearing at his finely coiffed hair after the way he got out. It was full on off stump from Areni and Massiah drove it uppishly straight to the man on the long off rope, which is the shortest boundary at the ground so it was more like an orthodox mid off. It was a soft dismissal to put it mildly. More responsibility was needed from the captain and he just tossed his wicket away. In the next over, the first ball pitched on a good length and jagged back to beat Kadu's front foot defense through the gate. Nadkarni and Baker at the crease now, two guys used to opening for USA and the ball is still very new so they have their work cut out. USA is 25 for 4 after 7. Nou and Areni have good, not great pace, but their accuracy is solid and they are swinging it very well. It's clear they've had a lot of solid training in the leadup to this event and they look like demons in the field. Still two slips and a gully in place.

PNG coached I think by Andy Bichel - a quality medium-fast swing bowler. But this should be no surprise to the USA - this has been what PNG teams have looked like for at least 20 years. Lots of tight medium paced swing bowling, athletic fielding, but no standout batsmen. 200-225 would have been a winning score, I think the USA can win with 150. Plus (and excuse the cynicism) we've got Howard Johnson to bowl too. Getting caught on that short boundary is inexcusable - but I have seen it happen so many times. As a batsman you think you can clear it when, had the boundary been longer, you would usually have played a very different shot. A short boundary at mid-off or extra cover is less of a freebie than a short boundary at mid-wicket or long-on (as at KCC).

Come on team ... You can do it .... Just one partnership .. its a small ground .... bat the overs ..forget the score .. runs have to come on a small boundary ..... 200-225 we will win ...

- a very tensed ady

just tuned in... not looking good for US... and mgmt decisions seem to be inline with the last 10-15 years of US cricket... i think a lot of it comes down to attitude...

Peter can you please get an explanation for the inclusion of Johnson ahead of Forrest. Thanks