The Vanuatu Cricket Association has kicked off its 2021 High Performance T10 league on Saturday 20 February with the proud sponsorship of Societe Pastorale de la Loumpate Limited, Pacific Private Bank and Splashe. The competition consists of Vanuatu’s best club cricketers and the players in the Vanuatu National Cricket teams and it is played in the T10 format which is the shortest format of cricket played in Vanuatu. The teams featured in the competition are the Ifira Sharks, Mele Tafea Bulls, and the Mighty Efate Panthers. Each team consists of a men and women’s team making a total of 3 women’s teams and 3 men’s team competing in the competition. The matches are played each Saturday and started on Saturday 20 February and will continue until Saturday the 20th of March. Each Saturday commences at 10:00am with the first women’s match followed by the second women’s match at 12:00pm, then the first men’s match at 2:00pm and the last men’s match at 4:00pm. Since the commencement of the T10 league, a total of 4 round matches has been played in each category and the results are as follows. Women’s HP T10 League Results: Round 1 – 4. Day 1: Saturday 20 February 2021 Round 1: Ifira Sharks (IS) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: MEP won the toss and elected to bat first. Result: MEP won by 1 run. Match Summary: After winning the toss, the Mighty Efate Panthers elected to bat first, a decision that almost backfired when they only managed 66 runs at the end of their inning for the Ifira Sharks to chase. However, their bowlers took the reins and left the Ifira Sharks 1 run short of a tie and 2 runs short of a victory. Here is a summary of the game and the best performers of the match. ME Panthers 4/66: Kyla Niras (19 runs), Merielle Kenni (12 runs), Appoline Firiam (1/11, 2 overs), Liath Kaloruk (1/5, 1 over). Ifira Sharks 4/65: Rachel Andrew (18 runs), Ruth Kaltongga (14 runs), Mahina Tarimiala (14 runs), Flora Nombong (1/10, 2 overs)
Player of the Match: Rachel Andrew _____________________________________________________________________________
Round 2: Mele Tafea Bulls (MTB) vs Ifira Sharks (IS) Toss: MTB won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: MTB won by 2 wickets Match Summary: The Ifira Sharks were sent in to bat first in their second consecutive game of Day 1 and only managed 57 runs at the end of their inning for the Mele Tafea Bulls to Chase. Mele Tafea Bulls having lost their big hitters in the first few overs, left the work to their tail enders to finish the game in the last over with Sarah Navaika hitting a much needed FOUR to bring home the nail-biting win for the Bulls. Here is a summary of the game and the top performers of the match. Ifira Sharks 4/57: L. Tastuki (19 runs), Melissa Fare (9runs), Vicky Mansale (1/12, 2 overs), Netty Chilia (1/12, 2 overs). MT Bulls 8/59: Marcelina Mete (11 runs), Sarah Navaika (7 runs, not out), Appoline Firiam (2/9, 2 overs), Melissa Fare (1/9, 2 overs).
Player of the match: Melissa Fare _____________________________________________________________________________
Day 2: Saturday 27 February 2021 Round 3: Mele Tafea Bulls (MTB) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: MTB won the toss and elected to bat first Result: MTB won by 35 runs Match Summary: In the first match of the day, having won the toss, Mele Tafea Bulls sent out big hitter Valenta Langiatu along with Nasimana Navaika to open the batting. The two contributed a total of 57 runs combined which brought the team’s overall total to 77 runs at the end of their inning. Mighty Efate Panthers needing 78 runs to win were unable to find the runs and fell 35 runs short of their target. Here is a summary of the match. MT Bulls 3/77: Valenta Langiatu (37 runs), Nasimana Navaika (20 runs), Alvina Chilia (16 runs), Alice Pakoa (2/7, 2 overs). ME Panthers 4/42: Kyla Niras (14 runs), Lina Fred (8 runs), Netty Chilia (2/8, 2overs).
Player of the Match: Valenta Langiatu _____________________________________________________________________________
Round 4: Ifira Sharks (IS) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: MEP won the toss and elected to bowl first. Result: MEP won by 7 wickets. Match Summary: After winning the toss for their second consecutive match of the day, the Mighty Efate Panthers decided to bowl first against the Ifira Sharks. The decision to bowl first did not seem like a good idea after all when the Ifira Sharks posted a total of 74 runs at the end of their inning with a 48 runs partnership from Mahina Tarimiala and Melissa Fare. Having failed to reach the 70 runs mark in their first game against the MT Bulls, the Panthers were skeptical of their chances but, Kyla Niras stepped up for the Panthers and with support from her team mates to secure a massive 7 wicket victory over the Ifira Sharks. Here is a summary of the match and top performers. Ifira Sharks 3/74: Mahina Tarimia (31 runs, not out), Melissa Fare (17 runs), Annais Stephen (1/9, 2 overs), Flora Nombong (1/6, 1 over). ME Panthers 3/75: Kyla Niras (22 runs), Valentina Tari (12 runs), Leimara Tastuki (1/7, 1.1 overs)
Player of the Match: Mahina Tarimiala _____________________________________________________________________________
Men’s HP T10 League Results: Round 1 – 4. Day 1: Saturday 20 February 2021 Round 1: Ifira Sharks (IS) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: Ifira Sharks won the toss and elected to bat first. Result: Ifira Sharks won by 55 runs Match Summary: In the first men’s match of the tournament, Nalin Nipiko put on a show with seven SIXES which featured a first ball SIX after the Ifira Sharks won the toss and elected to bat first. Sharks posting a total of 119 runs at the end of their inning were comfortable defending the target. The Mighty Efate Panthers with a good knock from Jarryd Allan, unfortunately were unsuccessful with the chase as they fell 55 runs short of their target. Here is a summary of the match and top performers. Ifira Sharks 6/119: Nalin Nipiko (53 runs), Apolinaire Stephen (36 runs), Tony Tamata (2/8, 2 overs), MacMillan Markia (2/10, 2 overs). ME Panthers 4/64: Jarryd Allan (23 runs, not out), Maxim Stephen (14 runs), MacMillan Markia (13 runs), Apolinaire Stephen (1/10, 2 overs), Wolford Kalworai (1/11, 2 overs).
Player of the Match: Nalin Nipiko _____________________________________________________________________________
Round 2: Mele Tafea Bulls (MTB) vs Ifira Sharks (IS) Toss: Ifira Sharks won the toss and elected to bat first Result: MTB won by 9 wickets Match Summary: In their second consecutive game of day 1, the Ifira sharks won the toss and elected to bat first again, with the hopes to repeat the outcome of their first match against the ME Panthers. Nalin Nipiko once again was the biggest contributor with the bat for the Sharks however, a lack of supporting runs from the team left the Sharks with only 72 runs on the scoreboard at the end of their inning. Patrick Matautaava stole the show during the chase with six SIXES and 56 runs not out off just 18 balls. Andrew Mansale only needed to contribute a few runs to support Matautaava and the MT Bulls to a 9 wickets victory over the Ifira Sharks. Here is a summary of the match and top performers. Ifira Sharks 4/72: Nalin Nipiko (30 runs), Bethan Viraliliu (16 runs), Wolford Kalworai (13 runs), Daren Wotu (1/5, 2 overs), Patrick Matautaava (1/9, 2 overs). MT Bulls 1/76: Patrick Matautaava (56 runs, not out), Andrew Mansale (14 runs, not out), Obed Yosef (1/18, 1.1 overs)
Player of the match: Patrick Matautaava _____________________________________________________________________________
Day 2: Saturday 27 February 2021 Round 3: Mele Tafea Bulls (MTB) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: MEP won the toss and elected to bat first Result: MT Bulls won by 9 wickets Match Summary: Mele Tafea Bulls taking on the ME Panthers in the first men’s match of day 2, were sent in to bowl first after losing the toss to the ME Panthers. Wesley Viraliliu wasted no time on the crease as he sent balls all over the Vanuatu Cricket Grounds with four massive SIXES and lead the ME Panthers to a total of 89 runs at the end of their inning. Patrick Matautaava not wanting to let Wesley Viraliliu steal his thunder responded with four SIXES of his own which together with contribution from Philip Tsione took the MT Bulls to another comfortable 9 wickets victory over the Panthers. Here is a summary of the match and top performers. ME Panthers 9/89: Wesley Viraliliu (33 runs), Jarryd Allan (15 runs), Joshua Rasu (12 runs), Patrick Matautaava (2/14, 2 overs), Darren Wotu (2/15, 2 overs) MT Bulls 1/90: Patrick Matautaava (42 runs), Philip Tsione (27 runs, not out), Joshua Rasu (1/22, 2 overs).
Player of the Match: Patrick Matautaava _____________________________________________________________________________
Round 4: Ifira Sharks (IS) vs Mighty Efate Panthers (MEP) Toss: MEP won the toss and elected to bat first. Result: MEP won by 20 runs Match Summary: After winning the toss for the second time on day 2, the Mighty Efate Panthers decided once again elected to bat first against the Ifira Sharks. The decision to bat first was the right decision for the ME Panthers as they managed 89 runs on the scoreboard with a massive contribution from Jarryd Allan. The Ifira Sharks needing only 90 runs to win were unable to chase down the score as the ME Panthers’ bowlers tightened their leash and restricted them to just 69 runs at the end of their inning. This left the ME Panthers with a 20 runs victory over the Ifira Sharks. Here is a summary of the match and top performers. ME Panthers 7/89: Jarryd Allan (48 runs), Tony Tamata (8 runs), Obed Yosef (2/11, 2 overs), Apolinaire Stephen (1/11, 2 overs) Ifira Sharks 4/69: Apolinaire Stephen (22 runs), Wolford Kalworai (14 runs), Joshua Rasu (2/9, 2 overs).
Player of the Match: Jarryd Allan _____________________________________________________________________________
Round 5 and 6 of the competition will take place on Saturday March 6 at the Vanuatu Cricket Grounds and the fixtures are as follows.
The Vanuatu Cricket Association would like to acknowledge the sponsorship from Societe Pastorale de la Loumpate Limited, Pacific Private Bank and Splashe towards the 2021 High Performance T10 League. -END-