Port Vila Men's First T20 Championship Matches Has Kicked Off

Tommy-Tari masterclass sees North Efate thump Mele in Round 1 of T20 Cup. North Efate Cricket Club began their T20 Cup title defence with a commanding 92-run win over the Splashe Mele Bulls, dominating all departments on Saturday afternoon at Vanuatu Cricket Ground #2 at Korman.

Batting first after winning the toss, the ‘Pigs piled on 185 for 2 from their full 20 overs. North Efate Club Coach Clement Tommy led the charge, blasting 91 off 49 balls, including seven sixes and five fours. Ronald Tari chipped in with 34 from 25, before new recruit and Australian national Indigenous team member Bryn Richards (36* off 34) and Tim Cutler (17* off 12) closed out the innings strongly.

Tari then produced a rare all-round performance — claiming a hat-trick in his only over (3 for 2) and taking three catches. Will Adams and promising fast-bowling prospect and VCA scholarship student Patrick Kafu took two wickets apiece, as Mele were bowled out for just 93 in under 10 overs.

It was a homecoming of sorts for three key Mele players, who each produced exciting but brief cameos. Andrew Mansale (21 off 10) and Patrick Matautaava (23 off 12) got the chase off to a flying start, while Jelany Chilia (20 off 7) kept the scorers busy after five years away in Australia. But once they fell, the innings unravelled, with six batters dismissed without scoring.

It was a clinical performance from North Efate, who put down an early marker as the team to beat in 2025, following their sweep of the T20 Cup and 40-over Shield last season.

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May 3, 2025 Match Abandoned: Chiefs vs Mighty Saints – Port Vila Men's T20 Championship 2025

The much-anticipated clash between the Chiefs and the Mighty Saints in the Port Vila Men's T20 Championship 2025 was unfortunately abandoned at Independence Park due to unplayable conditions.

Scheduled as part of the third round of league fixtures, the match was set to bring exciting T20 action to fans at Independence Park. However, persistent rain and a wet outfield prevented play from commencing. Despite efforts from ground staff and match officials to prepare the field for safe play, conditions remained unsuitable, and the game was officially called off without a ball being bowled.

Both teams will share points for the abandoned match, and attention now turns to upcoming fixtures in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested tournament.

The VCA thanks all fans and participants for their patience and understanding and looks forward to welcoming everyone back for the next match in the championship.

May 3, 2025 Tafea Sandalwood Outplay Tusker Panthers in Gritty T20 Victory

Tafea Sandalwood (TS) dug deep and held their nerve to notch a 30-run win over the Tusker Panthers (PH) in a tightly contested Port Vila Men’s T20 Championship clash, showcasing the kind of grit and game management that wins tournaments — not just matches.

Batting first, Tafea Sandalwood posted a modest but competitive 136 for 7 in their full 20 overs. It wasn’t fireworks, but it was discipline — a team effort built on hard singles, timely boundaries, and the refusal to panic under tight bowling pressure. The Panthers kept it tight in the field, but TS kept the scoreboard ticking.

In response, the Tusker Panthers never quite found the rhythm. Their innings crawled to 106 for 6 in 20 overs, a telling sign of just how effectively Sandalwood’s bowlers choked the chase. Every over built pressure. Every dot ball chipped away at hope. The Panthers lacked that one big innings to swing momentum, and Tafea’s bowlers made sure they never found it.

In a match where runs were hard to come by and composure meant everything, Tafea Sandalwood emerged as the more clinical, more composed side claiming a deserved win by 30 runs, and are now equal top of the table to North Efate, the team that bested them in the final last year.

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