BLACK Bass have been crowned champions of the 2025 Isuzu Women’s T20 Smash, defeating the Mudmen in a thrilling final at Amini Park on Saturday.

The finals show down capped off a week of high-quality cricket which showcased the depth of Papua New Guinea’s women’s cricketing talent.

In a showdown of the two equal top Group Stage teams, Black Bass clinched a hard-fought victory by defending their total in the last over, emerging winners by 7 runs to claim the Isuzu Women’s T20 Smash title.

Earlier, the Mariners took third place, taking just 11.2 overs to chase down their target of 64 runs for the loss of just two wickets, having bowled out the Cassowaries for 63.

In the final, Black Bass won the toss and elected to bat first on a sunny afternoon.

They posted a competitive total of 105 for 4 wickets in 20 overs, built on a steady opening stand and a late flurry of runs.

Hollan Doriga anchored the innings with a fluent 43 off 48 balls at the top of the order, finding gaps and rotating the strike effectively.

Pauke Siaka’s quickfire 27 from 26 balls in the death overs lifted the Black Bass to a challenging score.

The Mudmen’s bowlers put in a disciplined effort with leg-spinner Isabel Toua, last year’s player of the final, again shone, stifling the scoring over two two-over spells, including overs 18 and 20.

In reply, the Mudmen got off to a shaky start falling to 39 for 4 wickets in the 10th over, before Isabel Toua and Geua Tom’s run-a-ball contributions of 24* and 14 left them with 10 runs to get off the final over.

However, player of the match, Pauke Siaka, took a wicket on the first ball of the over and went on to concede only two runs off the next 5 balls, to see the Black Bass home.

The thrilling finish brought the crowd to its feet as Black Bass sealed the win in dramatic fashion.

Black Bass players erupted in celebration as the last Mudmen batter was dismissed, marking the franchise’s first-ever Women’s T20 Smash title.

It is a remarkable achievement for the Black Bass, who had fallen short in previous editions of the tournament.

The victory also means PNG’s women’s T20 crown has now been claimed by three different teams in the last three years (Cassowaries in 2023, Mudmen in 2024, and Black Bass in 2025), underscoring the growing competitiveness of the league.

Cricket PNG CEO, Richard Done, had highlighted the tournament’s role in showcasing local talent ahead of the event, and the finals lived up to that promise.

New talents from across the Amini Park made their mark alongside seasoned national players.

Notably, 18 of the 56 players in this year’s Isuzu T20 Women’s Smash came from outside Port Moresby, reflecting Cricket PNG’s push to broaden its talent base.

During the presentation ceremony, Cricket PNG’s Board member, Taunao Vai, and CEO, Richard Done, both acknowledged the continued and vital support of Boroko Motors through the Isuzu brand as the title sponsor of the T20 Smash.

The major individual awards went to Brenda Tau (Most Runs – 208), Marie Tom (Most Wickets – 12), and Konio Oala (Player of the Tournament), before the joyous Black Bass team hoisted the trophy in celebration.