The Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu Women's National Cricket Team celebrate a wicket against Fiji in their afternoon match on Monday 3 October
The Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu Women's National Cricket Team and the Papua New Guinea Lewas got off to perfect starts on Monday with both countries registering two wins each in their matches on day one of the inaugural Pacific Cup.
PNG were arguably the more dominant of the two winning by 178 runs and 8 wickets, over Fiji and Samoa, respectively.
Vanuatu's two victories came after batting first in both of their matches. In the morning game a rearguard fightback got Samoa to within 21 runs of the home side's 136/8 and in the afternoon, a commanding total of 172/6 had Fiji needing to attack from ball one, with the hosts eventually coming away with the win by 78 runs.
Both undefeated teams face off in the morning match on Wednesday on VCG #2 with Samoa taking on Fiji on VCG #1, both T20 Internationals starting at 9.30am at the Vanuatu Cricket Grounds.
Day One Results:
PNG 219/5 (20 overs) Ruma 67 (39) Siaka 38* (19), Doriga 30* (13), Vakuruivalu 3-39 (4) defeated Fiji 41 (9.4) Waqavakatoga 26 (20), Doriga 5-2 (1.4), Toua 3-4 (2) by 178 runs.
In perfect conditions at the Vanuatu Cricket Grounds, as Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu played their first international cricket for over three years, the Pacific Cup got off to a blazing start as the PNG Lewas posting a massive 219/5 from their 20 overs against Fiji on VCG #2. Recent ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier leading run scorer Tanya Ruma smashed 67 from 39 deliveries and the pair of Pauke Siaka (38* from 19 balls) and Hollan Doriga (30* from 13) put on 63 runs from the final 4.2 overs. Doriga completed a player of the match performance taking a remarkable 5 wickets for 2 runs from only 1.4 overs.
Player of the match: Hollan Doriga (PNG)
Hollan Doriga is presented Player of the Match honour by Umpire McMillan Marki after PNG's win over Fiji
PNG 83/2 (9.4) Vare 28* (24), Tau 24* (20), Vaaetasi 1-8 defeated Samoa 79 (19.1) Iosefo 12 (19), Tom 2-11 (3), Arua 2-13 (2) by 8 wickets.
In PNG's afternoon game, the Lewas dismissed Samoa for 79 in the 20th over as the wickets were shared among five bowlers with Oa, Tom, Doriga and Arua all taking two each. PNG made light work of the chase with player of the match Naoani Vare remaining not out on 28 from 24 deliveries.
Player of the match: Naoani Vare (PNG)
Vanuatu 136/8 (20) Langiatu 53 (43), Andrew 21 (26), Sanele 4-34 (4), Tunuvasa 4 catches defeated Samoa 115 (19.1) Agimalo 21* (11), Tunuvasa 20 (12), A 12 (19), Tom 2-11 (3), Arua 2-13 (2) by 21 runs.
A relieved Vanuatu side got the win in their morning fixture abasing Samoa, but not before partnerships of 25 and 40 for the ninth and tenth wickets respectively got the tourists close to chasing down the 137 required for victory, eventually y falling short by 21 runs.
Earlier Selina Solman has won the toss and elected to bat first with openers Valenta Langiatu and Rachel Andrew putting on 53 in 8.4 overs before Andrews was dismissed trying to hit across the line for four-wicket taker Jacinta Sanele.
Langiatu, not long back from a stint of seasonal work in Australia put any thoughts of rustiness to bed with a commanding 53 from 43 ball as the Vanuatu middle order kept the scoreboard ticking over despite a flurry of wickets in the latter overs. Medium pacer Jacinta Sanele collected 4-34 from four overs.
Samoa collapsed to 50 for 8 after Nasimana Navaika - only just returned to competitive cricket since the birth of her first child - took four of the first five wickets finishing with 4-21 from 4. Some intelligent batting from the tail, Ailaoa Aoina (16 from 16), Florence Agimaloa (21* from 11) and after taking four catch with the gloves, Kalala Tunuvasa (20* 12) got the Samoans close, but not close enough in the end.
Player of the Match: Valenta Langiatu (VAN)
Vanuatu 172/6 (20) Solman 39 (29), A Chilia 27 (25), Muriyalo 1-24 (4) defeated Fiji 94 (19.5) Waqavakatoga 24 (21), Andrew 2-12 (4), Langiatu 2-18 by 78 runs.
A composed 38 from 29 deliveries from skipper Selina Solman helped guide Vanuatu to 172 for 6 from their 20. Solman came to the crease at the end of the power play with the score on 57 after openers Rachel Andrew (26 from 17) and Valenta Langiatu (20 from 17) made a speedy start, and was ably assisted number 5 Alvina Chilia who made 27 from 25 deliveries.
Right arm quick Rachel Andrew bowled the first first over of the innings, delivering a maiden - after completing the same feat in Vanuatu's mining match against Samoa, before diminishing with the impressive figures of 2-12 from 4 overs.
Other bowlers to collect a brace were Vicky Mansale (2-23) and Valenta Langiatu (2-23) as Vanuatu's attack strangled Fiji's hitting power after left handed opener Ilisapeci Waqavakatoga was bowled by Mansale for 24 from 21 deliveries.
Solman capped of a player of the match effort taking 1-22 from 4 overs.
Player of the Match: Selina Solman (VAN)
Points Table (4 of 12 matches completed)
Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
PNG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +7.180 |
Vanuatu | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +2.475 |
Samoa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.532 |
Fiji | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6.400 |
REMAINING FIXTURES: WED 5 OCT Samoa v Fiji 9.30am VCG 1 Vanuatu v PNG 9.30am VCG 2 Fiji v PNG 1.30pm VCG 1 Samoa v Vanuatu 1.30pm VCG 2 THU 6 OCT PNG v Samoa 9.30am VCG 1 Fiji v Vanuatu 9.30am VCG 2 PNG v Vanuatu 1.30pm VCG 1 Fiji v Samoa 1.30pm VCG 2
All scores and stats: https://www.crichq.com/competitions/15181/draws/57121/rounds
The Pacific Cup
A joint initiative between the four competing nations and with assistance from the ICC, New Zealand Cricket and with plans to expand the event in future editions the Pacific Cup will see the four teams each play six T20 Internationals over three match days on the 3, 5, & 6 October 2022.
Each team will play double headers each day with games commencing from 9.30AM and 1.30PM at the Vanuatu Cricket Grounds near Korman. Entrance is free for all spectators. Whichever team finishes on top of the ladder at tournament's end will be crowned champions.
The schedule for the inaugural Pacific Cup
ABC Pacific Beat story with interviews: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pacificcupcricket/101489440 Further information regarding live streaming will be released in due course.