Papua New Guinea, featuring former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, were victorious in their first one-day international, beating Hong Kong by four wickets in Townsville, Australia.
Both sides gained one-day status earlier this year and Jones, who played 34 Tests for England, today won his 50th ODI cap more than eight years after his 49th.
The 38-year-old, not keeping wicket for the country of his birth, chipped in with 20 at better than a run a ball from number four as PNG overhauled Hong Kong’s 202 all out with 10 overs to spare.
PNG had slipped to 75 for five shortly after Jones was caught behind to be the first of three scalps for seamer Irfan Ahmed.
However, Vani Morea and Charles Amini responded with a match-winning stand of 92, making 54 and an unbeaten 61 respectively.
Hong Kong, who won the toss at the neutral venue, relied on 60 from captain Jamie Atkinson plus lower-order contributions of 42 from Muhammad Khan and Haseeb Amjad’s smooth 35.
PNG, for whom Jones did not bowl, shared the wickets to dismiss their opponents with nine balls unused, seamer Chris Amini proving most economical with 2-29 from 10 overs.
The teams meet again at the same venue tomorrow.