Papua New Guinea made its international debut in September 2006, playing a three-match series against Japan to determine which team would represent the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region at the 2008 World Cup Qualifier.[6] Papua New Guinea won the series against Japan three–nil, but at the World Cup Qualifier won only two matches, both against Bermuda.[7]
At the 2015 Pacific Games, which Papua New Guinea hosted, a women's cricket event was included for the first time. The team narrowly lost to Samoa in the final, having been undefeated up to that point.[6] Later in the year, Papua New Guinea participated at its second global tournament, the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier, placing fifth out of eight teams.[8]
In April 2018, the ICC granted full Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Papua New Guinea women and other international sides since 1 July 2018 are eligible for WT20I status.[9]
In October 2021, it was reported that Australian Kath Hempenstall had been appointed head coach of the Lewas in preparation for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, and it was expected that Hempenstall would meet the team in person for the first time there.[13] However, on 8 November 2021, Papua New Guinea announced that they had been forced to withdraw due to several players recording positive tests for COVID-19.[14]
