Papua New Guinea needed to win their final league game of the 2025 PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational, and win it big. With the Australian Indigenous team finishing on five wins from six matches, PNG had to match that record and edge ahead on net run rate to lift the trophy.
They did just that. On home soil at Amini Park, PNG delivered a memorable performance to beat Samoa and seal the title. At the centre of it was Henao Thomas, whose 3 for 8 with the ball in the second innings and composed 20 off 17 with the bat earned her the Player of the Match award in the final league match.
“Yes, there was joy and happiness in everyone’s faces that day,” she says. “It was a special moment for the team and for everyone who supported and made this tournament a successful one. The fact that we were playing at home in front of our families also gave us smiles on our home ground, and having to represent our country at this level was an achievement at that level as a sport.”
The tournament itself was historic. Played as part of PNG’s 50th independence celebrations, it was the first women’s T20I tournament ever held in the country. The PacificAus Invitational brought together PNG, Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Australian Indigenous team in a first-of-its-kind event celebrating cricket and culture across the Pacific.
For Henao, the journey began far from the spotlight.
“I come from a family of 7 that includes me. I have 3 sisters and one brother. I am currently studying and at the same time playing cricket. My interest grew in cricket when I started playing village cricket with the boys.”
That spark turned into something bigger. She recently went on to captain Black Bass and win PNG’s domestic Isuzu Smash and earned a development opportunity with Brisbane Heat, thanks to a partnership between Cricket PNG and Cricket Australia.
“To be honest, it really has helped me as a young athlete to have been given the opportunity to train with the girls,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot and I want my other teammates also to come across opportunities like this, so they can train and learn from the experience too. [About Isuzu Smash] It was good to have a couple of senior and experienced players who contributed and helped on and off the field, which was a big part of being successful. In the end, it was all about learning.”
In March, PNG secured another four years of ODI status, ensuring more fixtures and pathway access in ICC competitions.
“Securing another four years of ODI status means a lot to us as a team. It gives us more opportunities to compete at a higher level, gain more experience and mostly improve our world ranking.”
Her own development is built on small, steady foundations.
“It all comes to hard work and commitment. It all starts with my training and the effort I put into doing extras, eating the right food and sleep. All of this has helped me so much with my performance on the field.”
Her most memorable experience from the recently concluded PacificAus invitational was beating the Australian Indigenous side.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us as a team to win the tournament, especially when you’re up against teams with strong backgrounds like the Australian side,” she says. “It gives us a lot of confidence and belief. Winning shows that PNG cricket is growing. It also gives us hope that in the future, when we participate in international tournaments, it’s a big opportunity. It lifts our standards and motivates us to train harder, stay focused, and aim higher. I hope more of us get the chance to go over and compete regularly.”
Next on the calendar for PNG is the Regional Qualifier in Fiji this September. For Henao and her teammates, the focus is already back on building for the next test. She also points out how investing in development will help the team to grow in the right direction.
“To compete against the bigger teams, I think we need to keep investing in grassroots development, quality coaching, and more international exposure, facilities and infrastructure. Players can also play a big part with support from the government, sponsors, and partnerships. With the Australian partnerships and tournaments, I think it really helps a lot. We have the talent, now it’s about creating more opportunities to sharpen our game and stay competitive.”
