The opening weekend of the Port Vila T20 Championship witnessed some intriguing battles, with the efate based clubs looking to start their seasons off well.
In the round 1 clash between Tusker Panthers and Splashe Mele Bulls, both teams fought hard, displaying a keen sense of competition. Tusker Panthers managed to put up a respectable total of 123/6 in their 20 overs, with Jarryd Allan leading the charge with a solid 54 runs. However, it was a disciplined bowling performance from Splashe Mele Bulls that restricted them to a modest total. Jacky Matautotau and Rashid Bangalulu were the pick of the bowlers, each taking crucial wickets to keep the Panthers in check.
In response, Splashe Mele Bulls chased down the target with determination, ending at 124/7 in just 18.5 overs. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, contributions from various batsmen ensured they reached the target successfully. Philip Tsione's explosive innings of 23 runs off just 7 balls turned the tide in their favor
The days other match between Paama Sharks and Tafea Cricket Club was a less closely contested affair though with , Paama Sharks, anchored by Jamal Vira's impressive 70 runs, setting a competitive target of 111 runs in their allotted 20 overs. It was the Tafea Cricket Club's batsmen, particularly Williamsing Nalisa, who scored a blistering 68 runs off 36 deliveries, that led their team to a comfortable victory in just 10.1 overs. Nalisa's aggressive batting display included six boundaries and five sixes, dismantling the sharks bowlers and guiding his team to victory.
Reflecting on the match, Williamsing Nalisa, a key player for Tafea Cricket Club, expressed his team's ambition, stating, "Mifala sta kam blo win this yia. Mo wetem team weh mifala kat mi ting seh ba mifala kat wan good chanis blo mekem gud"
Jamal Vira, the captain of Paama Sharks, noted, "This season is a significant learning curve for us. We have a young team, and each match presents an opportunity for growth and development. While today's result didn't go our way, we're using every game to gain experience and improve as a unit."
The final match of the round between North Efate Bushpigs and Mighty Saints was called off due to unfavourable pitch conditions, with the fixture likely to be postponed.
Here's a look at the current standings in the Port Vila T20 Championship:
Team | Pld | W | L | Drw | Abd | Pts | Bonus | Total | NRR |
Tafea Cricket Club | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | +5.516 |
Splashe Mele Bulls, SM | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | +0.434 |
Mighty Saints, MS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | +0.000 |
North Efate Bush Pigs, NE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | +0.000 |
Tusker Panthers, PH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.434 |
Paama Sharks, Men | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -5.516 |
MVP Ladder:
Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Batting | Bowling | Fielding | Total |
1 | Jarryd Allan | 1 | 8.59 | 4.43 | 2.79 | 15.81 | |
2 | Jamal Vira | Paama Sharks | 1 | 11.35 | 1.95 | 1.35 | 14.66 |
3 | Williamsing Nalisa | Tafea Cricket Club | 1 | 10.28 | 2.21 | 0.0 | 12.49 |